HC Deb 08 December 1942 vol 385 cc1411-2
1. Mr. Edmund Harvey

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare whether he will give the latest information available as to the conditions of malnutrition prevailing among the civil population of Belgium under German occupation; whether there has been any communication with any of the Allied Governments as to this position and as to the proposal that dried milk and vitamins should be permitted to be sent to Belgium for distribution to children, nursing mothers and invalids under the control of the International Red Cross?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare (Mr. Dingle Foot)

I have no evidence to show that conditions of public health in Belgium have greatly changed since the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend on 21st July. In recent months, however, there has been an increase in the meat and potato rations, due mainly to improved distribution. As regards the, second part of the Question, His Majesty's Government are frequently in communication with Allied Governments regarding the condition of their respective countries under enemy occupation; but the House will not expect me to reveal the nature of such communications.

Mr. Harvey

Will my hon. Friend say whether the Government are considering the appeal which has been made by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster with regard to the feeding of children in Belgium?

Mr. Foot

There has been no change in the blockade policy of His Majesty's Government.

Mr. Harvey

That is not an answer to my question. My question was about the appeal on this subject by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster.

Mr. Foot

All appeals received from those or other responsible quarters do receive the most careful consideration of His Majesty's Government, but I must repeat that there has been no change in our blockade policy towards occupied countries.