asked the Minister of Food the length of time a person entitled to a higher scale of rations by reason of his employment in a particular occupation, retains his entitlement to that scale when voluntarily refusing to work at that employment.

Extra rations issued to someone employed in a particular occupation are withdrawn as soon as he ceases to follow that occupation, but not where, owing to an industrial dispute, the cessation is temporary.

Does it follow from that answer that where persons have been entitled to the extra rations they lose them if they follow some other trade, but retain them if they do not work at all?

If they follow some other trade they lose them—they are disqualified from getting the extra rations which they previously enjoyed. But the hon. Member is talking about a section of the community which is unemployed for a week or two weeks, and in those cases ration books have already been deposited with tradesmen, and it is possible that the relevant coupons may have been cancelled.

While appreciating that point as a reasonable one, does not the original answer mean that there is no time limit at all?

The hon. Gentleman has asked me to define the time limit of a strike, and I am not prepared to do that.

Major Lloyd:

Men who take part in unofficial strikes can apparently receive an extra cheese ration as long as they like, and is that good for the nation?

We are not going to use food sanctions for dealing with industrial disputes.