§ 64. Mr. Osborneasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will send special and urgent help to Ceylon where there is insufficient rice to maintain with certainty even the present low ration of five and a quarter ounces a day for any length of time; and if he will make a statement on the position.
§ Mr. J. FosterThe United Kingdom Government are aware of, and sympathise with, the Ceylon Government's difficulties. There is a world shortage of exportable supplies of rice which of course also affects United Kingdom territories in South-East Asia. Malaya, for instance, depends on imports for half its supplies, and Hong Kong for almost all. The United Kingdom Government have consistently brought to the notice of the main exporting Governments the dangers of the shortage, and the need for as high a level of exports as possible.
The bulk of supplies from the main rice exporting countries are allocated to Governments. Further such allocations which are made by Governments are likely to be made by Burma this month and by Siam within the next three months. Ceylon will no doubt be able to secure further quantities in this way.
It is reported that the Ceylon Government have also been in successful negotiation for rice with the United States, Brazil and Indo-China, and that as a result the situation has been eased.