asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food on what basis, as concerns price and priority and other details, food supplies are allotted to British Restaurants and other public centres as compared with private caterers?

Major Lloyd George:

British Restaurants and other community meal centres are granted allowances of rationed foods in common with all other catering establishments on the basis of the number of meals they serve. They do not enjoy any privileged position in regard to buying facilities. Many of the British Restaurants have been set up for the purpose of feeding workers for whom canteen provision in their works is not practicable, and the British Restaurant as well as the works canteen has been given priority in the supply of certain manufactured articles and other un-rationed foods of which stocks are short.

Seeing that it is very difficult to follow this matter in this way, can my right hon. and gallant Friend say that these private caterers are really being given a fair deal as compared with municipal and other restaurants?

Major Lloyd George:

Certainly, taking like with like, they are. Where in effect British Restaurants deal with large numbers of workpeople it is because these cannot yet be accommodated in other establishments or even in works canteens.