HC Deb 18 April 1944 vol 399 cc6-7
10. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare if he has further information respecting the incidence of food shortages in Greece and Belgium; to what extent vitamins and food are still being supplied; and whether, in particular, he has received any reports on the condition of children in Athens.

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

As regards the first part of the Question, my information does not show any material change since the answer which I gave on 18th January to my hon. Friend the Member for the Combined English Universities (Mr. Harvey). I assume that the second part of the Question refers to supplies permitted to pass through the blockade. The monthly allocations of foodstuffs for Greece have recently been increased from 20,200 tons to 31,200 tons. Shipments of vitamins are proceeding according to the programme submitted by the Neutral Commission. As regards Belgium, my hon. Friend will no doubt have seen the recent announcement that we have decided to allow Vitamin D to pass through the blockade. Arrangements are being made accordingly for the despatch of this vitamin to Belgium and other occupied countries. As regards the last part of the Question, my information is that about one-third of the child population under the age of fourteen in Athens and Piraeus are considered to be in need of special assistance, and are receiving this in canteens supplied by the Relief Organisation.

Mr. Sorensen

While expressing my appreciation of the statement, may I ask the hon. Gentleman whether this denotes an expansion of policy on his part, or whether, on the other hand, it is due to his judgment that conditions are increasingly getting worse?

Mr. Foot

I think that, largely as a result of guerilla fighting in Greece, there was a deterioration of conditions there. That was one of the reasons which led us to sanction the increase to which I refer.

Mr. Sorensen

Will this increase continue, or is it merely a spasmodic effort?

Mr. Foot

No, Sir. It is our present intention that distribution shall continue at the higher figure I have mentioned.

Mr. Stokes

Can the hon. Gentleman say how the proportion of the supplies now going to Belgium compares with that for which the Government of Belgium asked?

Mr. Rhys Davies

Has the Parliamentary Secretary noted that the House of Representatives in Washington a day or two ago decided unanimously in favour of a very much more generous treatment of these starving people in Europe; and will His Majesty's Government take note of that fact?

Mr. Leach

Will the Parliamentary Secretary take very great care, as he has already done, not to encourage the enemy about this matter?