HC Deb 27 May 1946 vol 423 cc830-1
72. Mr. Molson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how much food has been sent by U.N.R.R.A. to the U.S.S.R.

Mr. McNeil

I am informed that up to 31st March last, U.N.R.R.A. had shipped approximately 130,000 tons of food to the Ukraine and Byelorussia, which are the only two Soviet Republics in receipt of U.N.R.R.A. assistance.

Mr. Molson

In view of the fact that the Soviet Government are unwilling to disclose to their Allies the stocks of food they possess in that country, what is the justification for sending relief to some of the Soviet Republics? Will the Under-Secretary represent to U.N.R.R.A. that so long as the British zone in Germany is short of food, as it is at present, and Russia is not exporting any food to that zone, relief to the Soviet Union should be suspended.

Mr. McNeil

The question of the allocation and distribution of food is a matter for the U.N.R.R.A. administration. The subject of Germany is quite a different matter from instructing or advising our representative on the U.N.R.R.A. administration, but I will bear that in mind.

Earl Winterton

Will the Under-Secretary make it clear, when he says that he has information, whether he is informed by the British representative, or whether U.N.R.R.A. keep him informed on all their work?

Mr. McNeil

I have to ask U.N.R.R.A. administration and not our representative for detailed figures to reply as fully as I can to the hon. Member.

Major Guy Lloyd

Will the Under-Secretary " ensure that the B.B.C. are invited to broadcast in Russian to the Russian people details of the very generous gifts of U.N.R.R.A. to the Soviet Union?

Mr. McNeil

I cannot direct the B.B.C. as to what they should put in their news service to Soviet Russia.

Sir Stanley Reed

Will the Under-Secretary draw the attention of the U.N.R.R.A. administration to the fact that whereas Russia can sell to France 500,000 tons of food, her satellite Republics should not be dependent upon the charity of other nations?

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