HC Deb 06 August 1940 vol 363 cc53-4W
Mr. R. Morgan

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in connection with the rationing of tea, lie will consider treating the staffs working at air-raid precautions posts, especially at night, on the same basis as catering firms, and enabling them to obtain reasonable supplies either direct or through the local authorities to whom most of these workers are giving voluntary service?

Mr. Silkin

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will consider granting a supplementary ration of tea to offices and canteens to enable tea to he supplied to employés?

Mr. Boothby

Works and other canteens which are registered as catering establishments are entitled to the same facilities in respect of tea supplies as commercial caterers. I regret I am unable to afford special facilities to offices. In regard to the staffs of air-raid precautions posts, registration as a catering establishment is not always appropriate to these cases. Special permits for sugar have, in the past, been issued to Civil Defence personnel where hardship would otherwise have been involved, and instructions have been issued that special permits for tea should be issued in those cases where sugar permits are already held.