§ Major Digbyasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps are being taken to remedy the serious shortage of cigarettes for Marines serving in the Far East.
Mr. AlexanderSupplies of cigarettes are allocated for sale in canteens to personnel serving in His Majesty's Ships and naval establishments abroad on the basis of 400 a head a month. In addition, the men can purchase, from Service stocks, pipe or cigarette tobacco up to 2 lb. (equivalent to 800 cigarettes) a month. There is no differentiation in this respect between naval ratings and Royal Marines. The world-wide shortage of cigarettes makes it impracticable to get an increased allocation for sale in naval canteens in the Far East.