§ Mr. Kingasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that 9,000 loaves of bread were delivered to eight small Soviet minesweepers in the port of Falmouth last week; what are the arrangements for bread delivered to visiting ships; whether reciprocal arrangements apply to British ships visiting the U.S.S.R.; and whether he is satisfied the amount delivered in this particular case was reasonable.
§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been called to the loading of 18,000 lbs. of bread on to a Soviet destroyer recently at 295W Falmouth, supplied by the Falmouth Cooperative Society; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StracheyYes, Sir. Bread like other foods required as ships' stores may be bought in the ordinary way of trade by visiting ships from ships' stores dealers licensed under the Ships' Stores (Control) Order. This Order provides for the control of quantities of foodstuffs which may be supplied to such ships at ports in this country.
The ships in question were recently disposed of by the Admiralty and it is the practice for foreign registered ships to be granted stores to the first foreign port of call at which food can be obtained. In this case, the bread was required for 1,300 persons for a voyage to the Black Sea and stores were granted for a period of 14 days. The ships were carrying no flour or biscuits and had no baking facilities and, in the circumstances, I am satisfied that the amounts were reasonable.
In accordance with normal international practice, foreign ships are able to obtain sufficient stores for their requirements at Ports at which they call, and no special arrangements are necessary for this purpose between individual countries.