Cadets' Rations (Holidays)
4.
asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if boys at Osborne and Dartmouth receive during the term or the holidays rations in excess of those allowed to other boys of the same age; and, if so, what is the difference in the rations?
Perhaps my hon. Friend will put this question down again next week. The colleges are in vacation, and I have not been able to obtain the necessary information in time for reply to-day.
17.
asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if young men at Woolwich and Sandhurst receive during the term or the holidays rations in excess of those allowed to other young men of the same age; and, if so, what is the difference in the rations?
During the term the scale of rations for cadets of Woolwich and Sandhurst is the same as that for soldiers of similar age in graduated battalions. No arrangements for their feeding in the holidays are made by the military authorities.
Are they on the scale of the Home Defence Army?
They are on a special scale suitable for boys under training.
Does that apply to those at Training Cadet Schools?
I am not quite clear upon that point. Perhaps my hon. Friend will give me notice.
Is it not the case that the physical work required of these young men at Woolwich and Sandhurst is very much greater than for others?
I think it is a matter of common knowledge and universal acceptance that boys between seventeen and nineteen want a larger proportion of food than more mature adults.
Prisoners' Rations
19.
asked whether any German prisoners are or have been during the last month allowed 1 lb. of butter per week?
The answer is in the negative.
Camp Rations
20 and 21.
asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) what is the general rule with regard to staff- sergeants or other non-commissioned officers who are allowed to live outside camp with their wives and families in respect of rations; have they the same privilege as commissioned officers and are allowed to draw rations from the camp to be consumed at home, or must they choose between drawing their rations and consuming them in camp, or else accept 7s. per week in lieu of rations and buy their rations in the town on the usual scale allowed by food ticket to the ordinary civilian; is the general Regulation on the subject carried out at Grantham Camp; (2)whether non-commissioned officers living out of camp are not given the privilege of drawing their rations and consuming them out of camp, but have instead to accept 7s. per week in lieu of rations and live on the civilian scale allowed by food tickets; whether, as a result, such non-commissioned officers can only obtain 15 ozs. of meat per week as against a soldier's ration of 70 ozs.; is he aware that in consequence it is difficult for a man engaged in physical instruction or who may be sent abroad at short notice to keep fit; and will the War Office issue instructions that the same privileges be accorded to non-commissioned officers as are given to commissioned officers in this matter?
A soldier living with his family receives a consolidated money allowance to cover rations, lodgings, etc. When in receipt of this allowance, the soldier is not entitled to draw rations in kind. The question whether any alteration should be made in the existing Regulations or in the rate of the consolidated allowance is being considered.
Is this rate 7s. per week?
No; there is a consolidated allowance, which, speaking from memory, amounts to 20s. or 21s. a week.
Dates (Retail Prices)
33.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been drawn to the retail prices at which dates are selling; and whether he has considered the advisability of fixing the selling price?
37.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether any control price for the sale of dates has been fixed; whether there is any adequate supply in this country to enable dates to be supplied with any approach to uniformity throughout the country; and whether he is aware that the only dates obtainable in most shops cost between 2s. 6d. and 3s. per 1b.?
There are two distinct classes of dates sold in this country—Persian dates, of which a considerable quantity has been purchased by the Ministry of Food; and Tunis and Egyptian dates, of which small amounts have arrived on private account. The latter are in the nature of a luxury, generally packed in fancy boxes, and no maximum price has been fixed for them. The maximum retailprice of the Persian dates, which are now being distributed, is fixed by Order at 6d. a lb. The supply available is about one-third of a normal year's supply, and is being distributed with uniformity throughout the United Kingdom through the ordinary trade channels
Can the hon. Gentleman give us any idea when these dates will be likely to be distributed and be obtainable at the ordinary shops?
I understand that already at one or two places there are small queues of date-eaters waiting outside the shops.
34.
asked what is the quantity of dates to be sold at 6d. per lb. which have been imported; and are they all being put on the market?
The total amount imported is 6,300 tons. Of this quantity 470 tons were distributed to the Admiralty and the Navy and Army Canteen Board, 100 tons arrived in an unsatisfactory condition, which did not allow of their being kept, and were, therefore, sold immediately; 330 tons are being held back as a reserve, and the remainder are being put on the market.
How soon does the hon. Gentleman expect the dates will be put on the market, as he says there are queues waiting for them?
The only reason for holding them back is that we are awaiting additional supplies, and desire to place them on the market at one time.
Heavy Manual Workers
35.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the scarcity of cheese and the fact that it is a necessary diet for those engaged on heavy work, the Ministry would arrange for such persons only being entitled to buy cheese?
The question of the supply and distribution of cheese is at present under consideration, and I will see that my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion is borne in mind.
36.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what precautions the Ministry are taking to see that only those engaged on heavy work are furnished with the special cards for heavy workers?
Under the provisional arrangement now in force, supplementary ration cards for heavy workers are issued only on an individual application, stating the nature of the work and verified by a certificate by the employer or other responsible person. The general subject of supplementary rations is under further consideration. I am in consultation with the representatives of organised labour, and hope to make an announcement shortly.
Can the hon. Gentleman say how many supplementary rations have been issued up to the present time?
No; I only know that many thousands of the forms have been correctly filled up and the applications made, but as to the exact number, I should require notice.