§ Major Beamishasked the Minister of Food on what authority and for what reason one of his officials called at a house in Lewes, of which he has been given details, in three successive weeks to inquire how many loaves of bread are being consumed each week, what quantity of cakes or buns are consumed and how much flour is used; whether he is aware that further visits have been promised; and if he will give immediate instructions to stop this official or any other official, from making repeated calls in this fashion.
§ Mr. StracheyAs I have explained before, no officers of my Department are engaged in calling on housewives. The purposes of the Bread Rationing Survey, which is conducted on behalf of my Department by the British Market Research Bureau, is to discover how different sections of the community spend their bread units. Four visits, one in each week of the rationing period, are normally made by the investigator to each house wife who agrees to co-operate in the survey. No-one is obliged to supply the information, but I am very grateful to those who do so, as it is of considerable value to my Department. I certainly intend to continue the survey, which is376W necessary to the efficient working of bread rationing. In the case of which the hon. and gallant Member sent me particulars, I understand that no objection was raised on the three occasions when the investigator called. I have, however, given instructions that no fourth visit should be made.