asked the Minister of Food (1) if he will give figures of the total amount of milk allowed to restaurants and caterers; and whether the sale of liquid milk as a beverage is permitted in catering establishments;

(2) whether the sale in catering establishments of milk-shakes containing fresh milk is permitted by his Department.

Milk is allowed to catering establishments at the rate of 7½ pints per 100 hot beverages served, or, if they prefer, 5 pints per hundred hot beverages, main meals and breakfasts. Fresh milk may be served alone or in a milk shake, but no special supplies are allowed for this purpose.

Can my right hon. Friend give the total amount of milk supplied?

Not without notice.

That is the Question which I asked my right hon. Friend.

I can give my hon. Friend some information. The approxi- mate weekly consumption of milk in all catering establishments is 1,760,000 gallons.

Does not my right hon. Friend think that it is a much more satisfactory way to distribute milk to individual householders? Would he consider cutting off milk supplies for such things as milk shakes and allowing householders a little extra?

Only 750,000 gallons of that total is taken by restaurants and hotels. The rest goes to canteens and for purposes which we should be most unwilling to cut off.