Oral Answers to Questions — Food Supplies – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 14 July 1947.
Mr Arthur Symonds
, Cambridge
12:00,
14 July 1947
asked the Minister of Food if he will give an estimate, as at the most recent date, of the percentage distribution of the nation's total food supplies, including unrationed as well as rationed foods, as between civilian ration-card holders, the Armed Forces in the United Kingdom, schools, works canteens and catering establishments, respectively.
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
I regret that this information is not available, as unrationed food can be purchased freely in the markets and shops and its precise destination is unknown.
Mr Arthur Symonds
, Cambridge
asked the Minister of Food if he will give, as at the most recent date, the percentage distribution of rationed meat as between civilian ration-card holders, the Armed Forces in the United Kingdom, schools, works canteens and other catering establishments, respectively.
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
The distribution of rationed meat expressed in terms of percentages is as follows:
| Per Cent. | ||
| Domestic consumers | … | 84·9 |
| Armed Forces in the United Kingdom | … | 2·3 |
| School Canteens, Boarding Schools, Colleges | … | 3·5 |
| Works Canteens | … | 3·6 |
| Hotels restaurants, cafes, etc | … | 3·0 |
| Other catering establishments | … | 1·1 |
| Institutions other than Boarding Schools and Colleges | … | 1·6 |
| … | 100·0 | |
| A* | ||
Mr Arthur Symonds
, Cambridge
asked the Minister of Food if he will give, as at the most recent date, the percentage distribution of rationed foodstuffs as a whole, as between civilian ration-card holders, the Armed Forces in the United Kingdom, schools, works canteens and catering establishments, respectively.
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
The hon. Member will appreciate that the Question involves adding together the tonnage of such different foods as tea and meat and the answer must to this extent be unreal. But if this is done the approximate percentage distribution of straight rationed foods taken together is:
| Per Cent. | |
| Domestic consumers | 84·1 |
| School canteens, boarding schools and colleges | 2·2 |
| Works canteens | 3·5 |
| Hotels, restaurants, cafes, etc. | 3·4 |
| Other catering establishments | 1·0 |
| Institutions, other than boarding schools and colleges | 1·8 |
| Armed Forces in the United Kingdom | 4·0 |
| 100·0 |
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
