§ Sir I. Fraserasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will instruct the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes to 787W authorise and urge canteens throughout the country to buy local fruit and vegetables, particularly where there is a surplus, during the coming season and forbid their using tinned fruit and vegetables?
§ Captain MargessonThe Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes have been encouraged to buy produce locally as far as possible, but my hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate that their purchasing arrangements are governed by the same considerations as those of any other commercial undertaking which engages in wholesale buying on a large scale. As regards fresh vegetables, advantage is taken of a surplus so far as the limits set by the ration allow, and meetings are held locally between representatives of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes, the Ministry of Food and bodies representative of local growers to relate local demand to local supply. As fresh fruit is seasonal, it is not included as a fixed quantity in the ration scale. Messing officers may, however, purchase fresh fruit from the cash allowance when it is available locally. Such purchases may now be made direct from local growers as well as through the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes. I do not think it is desirable to interfere with the discretion of messing officers and the men's messing committees by forbidding the occasional purchase of tinned fruit and vegetables.