HC Deb 26 October 1943 vol 393 cc11-3
12. Mr. Edmund Harvey

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare whether further consideration will now be given to the possibility of sanctioning a limited scheme for controlled food relief for supplying dried milk and vitamins to young children and nursing mothers in certain European countries now under German occupation, in view of the fact that the wheat ration has now been increased by the German authorities and the danger of diversion of food to Germany consequently lessened?

Mr. Foot

This subject was fully discussed in the House on 8th July, and I have nothing to add to what I said on that occasion.

Mr. Harvey

Has not the information been given by my hon. Friend subsequent to that Debate and does not that materially alter the situation?

Mr. Foot

The information to which my hon. Friend refers is information I gave in an answer a week or two ago to the effect that following an improved harvest in most European countries there had been a general increase in rations, particularly in the bread ration. I do not, however, think that that in any way affects the blockade policy of His Majesty's Government.

Mr. Harvey

Will not that remove any incentive to the Germans to divert supplies?

Mr. Foot

No. If my hon. Friend will look again at the answer I gave, he will see that I said that in the case of Poland, at any rate, improved crops would almost certainly lead to increased requisitioning on the part of the enemy.

13. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare to what extent the shipments of food, as increased since April and July last, satisfy the requests made by the Swedish-Swiss Commission controlling relief work in Greece?

Mr. Foot

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers which I gave on 13th July and 14th October to my hon. Friend the Member for Evesham (Mr. De la Bère).

Mr. Sorensen

Has there been any expression of opinion by the Commission since that time? Could the hon. Member not give an approximate percentage as to the amount supplied in response to these requests?

Mr. Foot

I made it clear in my earlier answers that we had met most of the requests which had been made to us by the Commission. There was one particular request for stock-fish which for various reasons we were unable to meet, but the other requests the Commission made have been met or are still under consideration.

Mr. Sorensen

Are those still under consideration likely to be met in full in the near future?

Mr. Foot

That, I could not say.

14. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Parmentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare what shipments were permitted by His Majesty's Government to pass through the blockade to Poland during the early months of the war; when were they suspended and for what reasons; whether he can give details of the operations before and after that date of the American Commission for Polish Relief, Incorporated; and whether this work was hindered or interfered with by the enemy?

Mr. Foot

Between November, 1939, and May, 1940, His Majesty's Government permitted the despatch to Poland through the blockade of relief supplies to a total value of 1,000,000 dollars. These included wheat, flour, milk, clothing and medical supplies, and were shipped through Italian ports. The shipments were discontinued when Italy entered the war and His Majesty's Government were informed by the Polish Embassy on 7th June, 1940, that the Germans had withdrawn all offers to facilitate relief in Poland. I have no details of the operation of the American Commission for Polish Relief and I am, therefore, unable to say how far its work was hindered or interfered with by the enemy.

Mr. Sorensen

Would it not be possible for my hon. Friend to make inquiries to see whether any interference was exercised?

Mr. Foot

In any case I think the experience of that Commission is quite irrelevant to the problem of food relief through the blockade. As far as I remember, the headquarters of that Commission were in Berlin, there was no adequate neutral staff to supervise distribution in Poland, and after Italy entered the war the supplies that were distributed were not brought in through the blockade but were purchased inside the blockade area. In addition the Commission were under no obligation and had no duty to protect Polish domestic produce, and therefore it seems to me that the experience of those days is no particular guide to the problem of relief to-day.

Mr. Sorensen

But does my hon. Friend not admit that there is some relevance between one matter and the other?