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Local Food Offices (Staffs)

Oral Answers to Questions — Food Supplies – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 5 February 1947.

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Photo of Wing Commander Geoffrey Cooper Wing Commander Geoffrey Cooper , Middlesbrough West 12:00, 5 February 1947

asked the Minister of Food the figures for the number of start employed in the local offices, excluding regional office staffs, at Aberdeen, Middlesbrough, Bradford, Newcastle, Sunderland and Glasgow.

Photo of Dr Edith Summerskill Dr Edith Summerskill , Fulham West

The number of staff, including part-time staff, cleaners, etc., employed in these local food offices on 1st January, 1947, was; Aberdeen City, 96; Aberdeen County, 75; Middlesbrough, 57; Bradford, 160; Newcastle, 167; Sunderland, 12; and Glasgow, 615.

Photo of Wing Commander Geoffrey Cooper Wing Commander Geoffrey Cooper , Middlesbrough West

Does my hon. Friend realise that there is absolutely no relation at all between the numbers of staff employed at these local food offices and the number of inhabitants in the towns, and will she undertake to review this whole question of staffing with a view to basing the staffs dependent on some establishment scheme instead of on the whim or incompetence of local food office managers?

Photo of Dr Edith Summerskill Dr Edith Summerskill , Fulham West

I think my hon. Friend is totally misinformed. It has nothing to do with the whim of the local food office, but with the policy of the Ministry of Food.

Minister

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