HC Deb 26 October 1972 vol 843 c358W
15. Mr. Judd

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the organisation of catering services in the Royal Navy.

Mr. Kirk

Except in the smallest ships, the supply officer is responsible for feeding the ship's company. He is usually assisted by a caterer, who may be an officer or a senior rating, depending on the size of the ship or establishment. The system permits freedom of choice of diet up to the value of a messing allowance authorised by the Ministry of Defence. The majority of provisions are drawn from Service stocks or supplied by NAAFI, but fresh or frozen provisions not available from Service sources may, within a limited percentage of the messing allowance, be purchased from NAAFI or private traders, depending on their relative competitiveness.