asked the hon. Member for Woolwich, West, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, the figures of profit or loss in the Members Dining Room, the Strangers Dining Room and the Press Dining Room, respectively, for the last 12 months to the most recent convenient date.

The figures for the 12 months ended 31st December, 1953, were as follows:

			£
Members Dining Room	…	Loss	6,566
Strangers Dining Room	…	Loss	4,094
Press Gallery	…	Loss	3,536

These figures are before taking into account Grant in Aid, which, as hon. Members know, is a reimbursement by the Treasury of wages paid to staff when the House is not sitting. After crediting Grant in Aid, the net losses were £2,906, £1,756 and £1,850, respectively.