§ 47. Mr. Dribergasked the Prime Minister what steps are being taken by the India Office, Burma Office, Colonial Office and other Departments concerned, to prevent famine among the many millions of citizens of the British Commonwealth and Empire in the East whose staple diet is rice, whose food supplies have already been diminished seriously and whose welfare is the concern of this House; and what substitute foods are to be provided for them instead of their normal diet.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonAlong with other responsible authorities in the East, His Majesty's Government are taking all possible steps to overcome the difficulties arising from the world shortage of rice. So far as practicable within the rice-growing areas, efforts are being made to increase production and improve methods of collection. For example, teams of experts have been sent to Burma, Siam, Egypt and Brazil, and for Burma and Siam special supplies of consumption goods are being organised. But where crops have failed owing to prolonged drought, as in parts of India, little can be done along these lines, and elsewhere immediate results cannot be expected. In the areas where the staple diet is rice, local food production is being stimulated, and rationing and other arrangements extended to ensure effective distribution of available supplies.
As regards Europe, the Combined Food Board has agreed at the instance of His Majesty's Government that, except in special cases, no rice shall be provided during 1946.
Despite these and other measures, the rice available is certain to be far below needs. On behalf of the London Food Council, representations have been made to the Combined Food Board as to the need for additional supplies for the East. Up to the present, allocations have been made only for the first quarter of1946 and further decisions await more precise information as to the quantities of rice available. Since supplies of rice are woefully inadequate, some additional wheat has been secured to help to make up the deficiency and efforts are being made to obtain further supplies of cereals. In view of the present wheat situation, however, the quantities available are bound to be insufficient to meet needs.
§ Major WyattCan my right hon. Friend say what active steps are being taking to procure rice for India from Siam, where there is reported to be a surplus, and what the results of those efforts have been?
§ Mr. MorrisonAll possible steps are being taken to get rice from Siam and one of the purposes of this team of experts is to follow that matter up. We are very conscious of the needs of India and I can assure the hon. and gallant Gentle- 524 man we are doing our best to meet the position.
§ Sir Frank SandersonMay I ask whether the shipping of soya beans from Vladivostok to India is being considered to take the place of rice?
§ Mr. MorrisonI could not say. Vladivostok is a place that is not under the control of the British Government, but we will take note of the point.
§ Mr. Godfrey NicholsonDo the Government recognise that their responsibility for preventing famine in India is equal to their responsibility for preventing famine in this country?
§ Mr. MorrisonThe problems are somewhat different. Of course we recognise the direct and particular responsibility to do the very best we can for India. I should not have thought there was any doubt in any quarter of the House about that.