HC Deb 26 July 1944 vol 402 cc774-5W
Mr. A. Edwards

asked the Minister of Food how many British Restaurants were closed down in the years 1942 and 1943 and what were the reasons.

Colonel Llewellin

Up to 31st December, 1943, a total of 2,083 British Restaurants and other meals centres had been established under the Ministry's scheme.

Numbers of centres closed. Type of centre. Reasons for closure.
1942 1943
20 103 British Restaurants Difficulties of management and/or insufficient trade to justify continuance. Four of these Restaurants were taken over by the Local Education Authorities in 1942 for the feeding of school children and 17 in 1943.
7 6 British Restaurants Premises not suitable or no longer available.
4 7 British Restaurants Business transferred to other premises.
18 58 Cash and Carry Centres (i.e. supplying meals for consumption off the premises). Lack of support. Of the centres closed in 1943, one was transferred to other premises and two were taken over by the Local Education Authorities for the feeding of school children.
14 5 Evacuee centres (responsibility for which was transferred from Ministry of Health on 1st March, 1941). With the return of evacuated persons to their homes, the centres were no longer necessary.
9 1 Emergency Centres opened by Country Borough Councils of Plymouth and Sheffield. These centres, established after heavy air raids, were not required when public utility services and normal catering facilities had been restored. The equipment installed is where possible being used for school feeding.
18 39 Meals Service Centres set up by the London County Council. These closings are due to the Centres being:
(a)set up to meet emergency conditions, or
(b)destroyed by enemy action, or
(c)school premises taken back for education purposes, or
(d)transferred to more suitable premises.
90 219

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