Mr. De la Bèreasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, arising out of his request to the public to consume less bread and more potatoes, he is aware that at the present time restaurants catering for the general public are charging 4d. for a small portion of potatoes; and whether, as the value of the potatoes thus sold is less than 1d., he will take steps to ensure that supplies of potatoes are available at approximately the same price as would be charged for bread?
§ Mr. MabaneWhile my Noble Friend is anxious that potatoes should be made plentifully available at reasonable prices in catering establishments, careful inquiries do not support my hon. Friend's suggestion that the price in restaurants catering for the general public is 4d. a portion. The price charged for a portion at industrial canteens, British Restaurants, fried fish and chip shops, tea-shops, popular restaurants, and similar establishments varies from 1d. to 3½d. a portion. These prices relative to the prime costs to the establishments already satisfy the suggestion in the second part of my hon. Friend's Question in that they compare very favourably with the prices charged for bread.