§ Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that more than 1,700 new houses have been built at East Kilbride over a wide area, which have a high proportion of young married couples living in them; and whether he will arrange facilities for the distribution of orange juice and dried milk at convenient points in the new housing districts.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI am aware of the number of new houses now occupied in this district. As stated in reply to my90W hon. Friend on 31st March, I have arranged for the Food Office to be open on three days in the week instead of two. The facilities available for the distribution of orange juice and dried milk now compare favourably with those in other districts, but the number of callers at the Food Office is being watched to see whether any change is justified.
Sir G. Lloydasked the Minister of Food the proportions, in each case, of welfare foods available through his Department for children and expectant mothers that are being taken up.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeAbout 97 per cent, of those entitled to obtain milk or National Dried Milk under the Welfare Foods Service do so. The quantities of the vitamin supplements taken up in 1953, expressed as a proportion of the full entitlement, are as follows: Orange Juice 29.4 per cent.; Cod Liver Oil 23.8 per cent. Vitamin Tablets 32.6 per cent. The percentage of persons who obtain the vitamin supplements is higher than these figures suggest, because many do not take up their full entitlement.