§ Mr. W. Brownasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare whether his attention has been drawn to the food situation in the Channel Islands; and whether he can find any ways and means of relieving the situation in these islands?
§ Mr. FootWhile information about conditions in the Channel Islands is necessarily incomplete, the evidence available suggests that although there is a marked shortage of food in the islands by comparison with this country, and an almost total lack of certain particular products, the effect of the deficiencies has not been such as to impair the general health of the inhabitants. As regards the second part of the Question, I would assure my hon. Friend that the welfare of our fellow-countrymen in the Channel796W Islands is a matter of deep and constant concern to His Majesty's Government. But we are obliged to maintain the blockade of the areas occupied or controlled by the enemy Powers if we are not to yield to the enemy a vital advantage in the prosecution of the war.