§ Mr. McEnteeasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has any statement to make on the financial position of the Refreshment Department as disclosed in the published accounts for the year ended 31st December, 1947.
§ Mr. Glenvil HallYes. The decisions of the House that all the staff of the Refreshment Department (which caters for Members, officers and staff of the House and visitors) should be employed permanently throughout the year, and a contributory Superannuation scheme be instituted, has, as Members will appreciate, added considerably to the overhead costs falling upon the Kitchen Committee. The result has been that, in spite of a substantial advance in the prices charged and a large increase in turnover, the Department is operating at a loss and incurred a deficit of £13,000 during the year ending 31st December last.
There can be no question of absolving the Kitchen Committee from the duty of conducting its business on commercial lines. However it is clear that little revenue can accrue to the Committee during the long periods in the year in which the House is not in session, and the Government therefore think it reasonable that there should be a contribution from public funds towards the net cost of the staff of the Committee during these periods.
The need for such a contribution would, of course, be subject to review from year to year in the light of the Committee's financial position as a whole. A Supplementary Estimate will be presented in due course to cover contributions in respect of both the current year and the year ended 31st December last.
It has also been agreed that the Ministry of Works, which is responsible for cleaning other parts of the premises, 140W should make an annual payment to the Kitchen Committee towards its expenditure on cleaning the premises occupied by the Refreshment Department.