HC Deb 03 April 1947 vol 435 c376W
Mr. Hurd

asked the Minister of Food how the rations, including special allowances of rationed foods for consumption in canteens and at home, issued to coalminers compare with those to which farm-workers are entitled.

2. Mr. Strachey

Allowances made above the normal domestic ration are as follow:

Coal miners(a) Underground workers only: 1s. worth extra meat per week. (b) Underground and surface workers:

  1. (i) 6 B.Us. per week (in addition to 6 B.Us. per week allowed to all heavy manual workers).
  2. (ii) Canteen facilities on the industrial A Scale (where there is no canteen, all miners may receive a further 6 B.Us. and 12 0z. instead of 2 0z. of cheese per week). [Underground workers obtain the extra bread and cheese even where there is a canteen, if the majority of them do not use it.]

Agricultural Workers(a) All agricultural workers are entitled to the normal heavy manual workers' allowance of 6 B.Us. per week. (b) Hired agricultural workers: An additional 6 B.Us. and 12 0z. instead of 2 0z. of cheese per week, to compensate for lack of canteen facilities. (c) All agricultural workers: During periods of special seasonal activity, a daily allowance is made of:

  • 5/16 0z. tea.
  • 4/5 0z. sugar.
  • 3/4 0z. margarine.
  • 2/5 0z. cheese.
  • 3/4 0z. preserves
  • 14 0z. bread.
  • ½ point.
These periods of special seasonal activity include harvesting, haymaking, hoeing and singling of root crops, lambing, sheep-shearing, threshing and sheep-dipping on hill farms. During the present year the above allowances are being given to agricultural workers engaged on intensive work between 24th March and 30th April, in addition to the usual periods of special activity.