HC Deb 04 December 1945 vol 416 cc2286-7W
Brigadier Maclean

asked the hon. Member for West Walthamstow, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, whether he will arrange for adequate supplies of Morecambe Bay shrimps to be made available in the dining-room of the House.

Mr. McEntee

In our endeavour to anticipate Members' wishes we have already sent the following letter dated 30th November, 1945, to our supplier at Morecambe Bay:

"Dear Sir,

Would it be possible for you to increase supplies of Shrimps? They are proving extremely popular, and I find it impossible in any way to meet the demand.

Yours faithfully,

(Signed)

Manager."

We await his reply.

Sir G. Jeffreys

asked the hon. Member for West Walthamstow, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, whether he is aware of the shortage of teaspoons in the dining-room; to what cause this shortage is attributable; and what steps he is taking to make good the deficiency.

Mr. McEntee

The seeming shortage of teaspoons is often one of the moment. There are sufficient teaspoons for normal periods, and the practice in the dining-rooms at the House of Commons is consistent with that of other catering establishments in that sufficient teaspoons are provided for what is considered to be a proper working margin, as it is impracticable to set aside a teaspoon for every meal that is to be served. There is a wastage of teaspoons, again, consistent with that of similar establishments, and steps are taken to replace that wastage by the purchase of new teaspoons as it becomes possible to purchase supplies from manufacturers, who have had their output very much curtailed throughout the war.