§ Colonel Medlicottasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the existing scale of rations is proving inadequate for farm workers and their families, particularly as in practice the opportunity of supplementation does not exist in the way which is generally assumed; and will he consider the possibility of making an appropriate increase.
§ Colonel LlewellinAlthough agricultural workers have not the same opportunities of obtaining cooked meals away from home as industrial workers who have access to canteens and other catering establishments, they, in common with certain other classes of workers in a similar position, receive the special cheese ration to compensate them for the lack of normal catering facilities. My Department has encouraged the organisation of pie schemes for the distribution of pies and other snacks in rural areas. There has been a continuous extension of the schemes, which are distributing an average of 1,267,000 pies weekly and cover more than 5,000 villages. Apart 63W from these arrangements, farmers may obtain allowances of food to provide meals for their workers during harvest time and other periods of special seasonal activity involving long hours of work in the fields. Where it is impracticable for the farmers themselves to prepare meals, they may distribute this food to their workers in unprepared form. In the circumstances I am satisfied that there is no inadequacy in the supplies of food available generally to farm workers and their families as my hon. and gallant Friend suggests.