§ 38. Sir ALFRED YEOasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the shortage of condensed milk for children; and, seeing that in November, 1917, either condensed or preserved milk to the value of over £2,000 was delivered by one wholesale firm in London alone to the alien concentration camp at Knockaloe, Isle of Man, and on 6th January, 1918, by the same firm condensed or preserved milk to the value of £8,600, he will say what steps he proposes to take to provide a further supply for children?
Mr. PARKERI am informed that the payments referred to in the question are on account of a contract made last autumn for condensed milk for Knockaloe Camp, which on the ration prescribed in the dietary will cover a population of 20,000 1123 men for a period of some thirty-four weeks. I may add that it is not proposed to make any further contracts of this nature for the present. The Food Controller is taking steps to provide a further supply of condensed milk for children.
§ Sir A. YEOWill the Food Controller not consider the advisability of stopping the supply of condensed milk to these prisoners altogether and give it to the children?
Mr. PARKERThe amount of milk that they get now is a little over half an ounce a day, I suppose. I understand there is some difficulty in getting the necessary food quality in the dietary. After what I have said in my first reply, that provision is going to be made for a further supply for children, and that this kind of contract is not likely to be renewed, I hope the hon. Member will not press his point.