§ Sir C. Rawsonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is satisfied that communal feeding centres are supplying meals to those for whom such centres were instituted; is he aware that many members of the working-class community are unable to leave their homes to take meals at such centres; and that those who can take meals at such centres, without surrendering coupons, are thereby drawing double rations?
Major Lloyd GeorgeI can assure my hon. Friend that British Restaurants are used by the persons for whom they were intended, namely, the poorer classes, evacuees and those factory workers for whom catering facilities do not already exist in their own works. The restaurants are undoubtedly used by other people for whom they were not intended but it is difficult to see how this can be prevented. It is appreciated that some members of the working-class community are unable to take meals in the restaurants but a cash and carry system has been provided to enable these people to send someone to purchase food at the restaurant for consumption in their homes. British Restaurants are registered as catering establishments and those who take meals there do so under the same conditions with regard to coupons as people taking meals in any other catering establishments.