§ Sir W. Smithersasked the hon. Member for Walthamstow, West, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, if he is aware that, in order to keep their jobs, certain members of the staff were compelled to provide 26 of their own coupons for the new uniforms; and if he will consider what steps he can take to provide coupons for those members of the staff who are in need.
§ Mr. McEnteeThere is no truth in the statement in the first part of the Question. The offer to provide the coupons needed, apart from the industrial coupons, came from the staff themselves and no pressure was exercised. There is a Joint Staff Committee consisting of three members of the Kitchen Committee and three members of the staff themselves to whom complaints or suggestions by the staff or the200W management may be made; but no complaint has been made on the matter contained in the Question either to me as Chairman, or to the Joint Committee, or to the staff representatives on the Committee. Members of the staff can appeal to the full Kitchen Committee if they are not satisfied with any decision of the Joint Committee. In regard to the last part of the Question, members of the staff have the same right as other citizens to put any case of hardship before the Board of Trade for consideration. The Kitchen Committee would appreciate it if Members of this House to whom complaint is made by any member of the staff, would refer them to their own elected representatives on the Joint Staff Committee.