45. Mr. H. D. Hughesasked the Minister of Defence whether he will now make a statement on the results of his review of Service ration scales overseas.
§ Mr. AlexanderI With reference to my statement to the House on 28th January on the Service ration scales at home, the Government have decided to make roughly proportionate adjustments in the overseas ration scales of the Forces, in order to secure all possible economies in hard currency expenditure.
2. The new scales provide for reductions, of 15 oz. of meat, 4 oz. of bacon, and 2 oz. of cheese a week, leaving the ration in these foodstuffs at 45 oz. meat (including offal), 5 oz. bacon, and 4 oz. cheese weekly. The amount of fats will be increased by 1½oz. a week, sugar by 1 oz. a week, and jam by 3½ oz. a week, making the weekly ration 14 oz. fats, 15 oz. sugar and 10½ oz. jam. It is intended that the overseas scale in general shall he maintained at its present level of 3,400 calories. The small calorific loss resulting from these changes will be made good by such non-rationed foods as may be locally available, or by the issue of additional bread. I will arrange for full details of the basic scales to be published in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
3. The new scale will apply to the Fat East equally with all other stations except Palestine. In view of the exceptional conditions, the existing ration scale will he maintained in Palestine.
4. The dollar saving resulting from these adjustments of the ration is estimated, very roughly, at about $5 million a year.
5. These adjustments will involve considerable dietary changes, and they will, therefore, be brought into effect by stages, as is being done with the recently revised home scales. At all overseas stations one half of the adjustments will have effect 333W from 1st May, and the balance three months later. The existing difference in the Far East ration will similarly be removed on 1st May.
6. These changes do not affect the ration scales of Naval personnel afloat. Their scales will be reviewed separately in the light of these changes and of the position of the Merchant Navy. Certain adjust-
THE REVISED ARMY OVERSEAS RATION SCALE—BASIC SCALE—SHOWING THE RESULTS OF THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WILL HAVE EFFECT ON 1ST MAY AND 1ST AUGUST, 1948.* MEN. WOMEN — Weekly Scale from 1st May, 1948. Weekly Scale from 1st August, 1948. Weekly Scale from 1st May, 1948. Weekly Scale from 1st August, 1948. Ounces. Ounces. Ounces. Ounces Meat, fresh or frozen (bone-in) … 40 35 33¼ 29¾ Bacon … 7 5 6 4½ Sausages (Beef) … 13 10 10 7 Tinned Herrings … 7 7 7 7 Butter … 2½ 3 2½ 3 Margarine … 8¾ 9 8¾ 9 Cooking Fat … 2 2 2 2 Cheese … 5 4 3 2½ Dried Egg … 1 1 3 3 Bread … 84 84 70 70 7† 4† 3½ † 8¾ † Flour … 17½ 17½ 10½ 10½ Oatmeal … 5 ¨ 4 4 Other Cereals … 2 2 2 2 Jam … 8¾ 10½ 10½ 10½ Sugar … 14 15 17 19¼ Tinned Milk … 23 23 23 23 Skimmed Milk Powder … 2 2 2 2 Fresh Fruit … 42 42 42 42 Dried Fruit … 6 6 6 6 Fresh Potatoes … 84 84 56 56 Fresh Vegetables … 56 56 56 56 Dried Peas, Beans, Lentils … 7 7 7 7 Fresh Onions … 14 14 14 14 Tea … 3½ 3½ 3½ 3½ Cocoa … 7/8 7/8 7/8 7/8 Salt … 3½ 3½ 3½ 3½ Miscellaneous Items … Various Various Various Various *The messing of shore-based R.N. personnel overseas is based on monetary allowances, but their consumption of meat, bacon, sugar, fats, cheese and preserves is restricted to the quantities shown in the Army scales. R.A.F. personnel in most stations overseas are rationed on the Army scales. † These quantities of bread to be replaced, if possible, by fresh produce purchased locally.