HC Deb 22 July 1946 vol 425 c307W
Mr. H. Macmillan

asked the Minister of Food what proportion of rationed food, both home produced and imported, is allocated to hotels, restaurants, etc.; and what increase would be possible in the civilian ration if all rationed food consumed in such places was subject to inclusion in each individual's weekly allowance.

Mr. Strachey

Hotels, restaurants and catering establishments of the commercial type, excluding industrial canteens, purchase on average 3.4 per cent. of the total quantity of rationed foods available for civilian consumption. Of this amount 0.7 per cent. is eaten by residents in catering establishments who have to surrender their ration books; this consumption is an alternative to, and not an addition to, the domestic ration. The remaining 2.7 per cent is eaten by non-residents. If this food were included in the domestic ration it would allow an increase of about one-tenth of an ounce per week of tea, preserves, cheese and bacon, three-tenths of an ounce per week of fats and sugar and about three-tenths of a pennyworth of meat.