§ Captain Ramsayasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, why he authorised the Lambeth and Brixton food controller to order the governor of Brixton Prison to prevent persons detained there under Regulation 18B from obtaining any greater proportion of their full quota of rationed foods than is included in the punitive diet limited to 4s. 11d. per week for convicted persons; and whether, in view of the fact that such an order runs contrary to the conditions of detention for persons under Regulation 18B as set out in Command Paper 6162, he will take early steps to regulate the matter?
§ Mr. MabaneThe action taken by the Lambeth Food Executive Officer to which my hon. Friend refers was not the result of any specific instruction issued from my Department. On becoming aware of his action, however, my Department informed him that my Noble Friend did not, despite the technical breach of the rationing regulations involved, wish to raise any objection, subject to prison regulations, to persons detained under Regulation 18B receiving gifts of rationed foods from their families and friends. The food executive officer thereupon dealt with the matter accordingly. The regulations under which action was taken have since been formally amended.