§ Captain Pluggeasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the terms recommended to local authorities for letting the premises of British Restaurants for social and similar functions in the evening; and whether, in view of competition with established local premises of a similar nature, it is proposed to charge letting fees on a strictly business basis?
Major Lloyd GeorgeSo far as I am aware, few applications have been made 947W for the use of British Restaurants for purposes such as my hon. Friend mentions. No general instructions have been issued to local authorities on the subject, but I see no objection to the letting of British Restaurants for evening functions subject to the conditions that the normal activities of the British Restaurants are not interfered with and a charge is made for the use of the premises on an ordinary commercial basis. I am in full sympathy with the view that there should be no unfair competition with privately owned premises which might otherwise be used for the purpose.