§ 17. Mr. Harveyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare whether he is now able to give further information as to the food situation in Belgium and France and, in particular, as to the adequacy of the food available for young children?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare (Mr. Dingle Foot)I would refer my horn Friend to the answer which I gave on 22nd April to my hon. Friend the Member for North Cumberland (Mr. Wilfrid Roberts) setting out the average weekly rations of the principal foodstuffs and showing the extent to which such rations are available. These figures have remained unchanged in Belgium, but the weekly ration of miscellaneous cereal foods, including roasted barley, pulses and other cereal products has been reduced from 197 grammes to 12 grammes. On the other hand there has been a considerable improvement in the supply of herrings. In France also there has been no change in the official rations for the whole country, though there have been certain local and apparently temporary cuts in the bread rations in certain departments. Recent reports further suggest that shortages of meat and vegetables in certain southern departments have been accentuated. Generally speaking these changes affect young children along with other classes of the population. There has, however, been no change in the special milk allowances for children and nursing mothers, while milk supplies naturally tend to improve in the summer months.
§ Mr. StokesIn regard to Belgium, is it not a fact that the Belgian Government have asked for navicerts for 2,000 tons a month of special supplies of dried milk, medical supplies and vitamin tablets, and will the hon. Member grant the necessary navicerts?
§ Mr. HarveyMay I ask whether the actual supplies of milk promised correspond with the theoretical allowance in the case of Belgium?
§ Mr. FootI have already informed the House in previous answers that the rations of milk are fully available in the case of children under three years of age, and nursing mothers, but sometimes rations are not forthcoming in the case of children over three years of age.