HC Deb 18 January 1944 vol 396 cc12-3
22. Mr. Edmund Harvey

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare whether he will give the latest available information as to food conditions in Greece, Belgium and France under German occupation, especially in relation to the needs of the child population; and whether any further proposals for controlled food relief have been considered by His Majesty's Government.

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

As the answer is a long one I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Harvey

Would the Parliamentary Secretary answer the last part of the Question, which is very important?

Mr. Foot

Of course, proposals are constantly under consideration but I am afraid I have no fresh decisions to announce.

Mr. Stokes

Does the answer indicate whether or not the Belgian Government have made any fresh report to His Majesty's Government? Is the hon. Gentleman afraid to answer that Question?

Following is the answer:

France. In October, 5943, owing to a much improved wheat crop the bread ration in France was increased by approximately 6 ozs. per head per week. Normal consumers, children, and certain other categories receive the benefit of this concession, the only exceptions being certain classes of workers already in receipt of supplementary bread rations. At the same time the milling extract percentage was reduced and it was found possible to dispense with some of the substitutes which had been used to eke out supplies in the pre-harvest months. There has also been a slight improvement in the sugar allowance to children under three and the grain producer's bread ration has been restored to its former level. Otherwise the official rations remain as stated in the reply which I gave on 22nd April, 1943, to my hon. Friend, the Member for North Cumberland (Mr. W. Roberts). My information is that the bread ration is now regularly available but full and punctual distribution of meat and fats rations is not everywhere maintained. In Paris, for example, it would appear that only three-quarters of the official meat ration has been distributed in recent weeks, while larger towns in the South of France have not been receiving the scheduled quantities of milk. German demands for French agricultural produce in the current year are again high. These exactions are a heavy burden for France and in excess of the quantities necessary for the maintenance of the occupying forces. If they were made available to the non-agricultural population, they would make possible a very substantial improvement in French rations. Belgium. Following the 1943 harvest there have been two increases in the Belgian bread ration, and the weekly allowance for a normal consumer is now approximately 74 ozs. as compared with 55 ozs. in April last. The weekly fats and cheese rations were each increased by ½ oz. in September though there was a reduction of ½ oz. in the meat ration. According to my information, these rations are regularly available and, in addition, children continue to receive their priority allowance of whole milk. Greece. The system of food distribution in Greece is different from that in other occupied countries. There appears to be no rationing of domestic produce. The Relief Commission distributes a regular bread ration in the principal towns and corresponding supplies of flour in many country areas. In addition it makes distributions of pulses, supplementary flour, sugar and sometimes olive oil and dried fruits, especially in the area of the capital. The Commission also distributes supplementary allowances of bread and other goods, including milk to children and to certain specially necessitous categories. Conditions in the smaller towns vary considerably, according to the availability of local supplies, which frequently depends upon the extent of military activity in the neighbourhood. Generally speaking, supplies of cereals in the Greek islands are seriously inadequate, but the Commission is endeavouring to extend relief to islands which it has not previously been able to reach. In Greece as in other occupied countries it is necessary to draw a distinction between rural food-producing areas and the rest of the country. Conditions in the former are, of course, considerably better than in the cities and towns except where military operations interfere with distribution or the enemy destroys or seizes crops. As regards the second part of the Question, I have nothing to add to my previous statements on this subject.