Mr. Baker White:

asked the Minister of Food what are the arrangements for the distribution of the 700,000 ex-Service food packs which are to be made available to miners; what ration coupons or points each miner will be required to surrender in return for a food pack; and whether any similar arrangements are being made for agricultural workers.

The packs are being distributed to mineworkers by the National Coal Board. Points or coupons will not be required in exchange. I regret that there are not enough of the packs to issue to farm workers and other heavy workers.

Mr. Baker-White:

Is the hon. Lady aware that this answer will be of the greatest disappointment to all workers on the land; and is she also aware that the men and women who are producing food for this country frequently go to bed hungry?

No, Sir, I do not think so. There are about 700,000 packs and approximately 700,000 miners, and this decision was reached during the fuel crisis when we felt it was necessary to give extra rations to the miners.

May I ask whether it was in fact done as a reward for the valuable services rendered to the nation?

Certainly.

Can my hon. Friend tell us when these packages will find their way to the coalfields?

They are being distributed now.