HC Deb 24 September 1943 vol 392 cc554-5W
Mr. Harvey

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare whether he will give the latest available information as regards the food supply actually available to the civilian population in the European countries now under German occupation?

Mr. Foot

Largely owing to the mild winter, the bread grain harvest this year in all European countries now under German occupation has been larger than in 1942. It is improbable that there has been any falling off in the potato and sugar-beet crops, and reports from Poland and Yugoslavia suggest a larger sugar beet harvest than in 1942. The decline in the output of meat, milk and butter still continues, but less rapidly, and the shortage of butter should to some extent be offset by greater supplies of vegetable oils for margarine, resulting from an improved rape seed crop in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Czechoslovakia. Following the harvest, the following increases in rations have taken place:

Belgium. The weekly bread ration for normal consumers has been raised from 55 oz. a week to 62½ oz., while the weekly fats ration has been increased from 3 oz. a week to 4 oz. This compares with 2½ oz. last February.

France. The self-suppliers' daily bread ration, which was reduced in the Spring from 18 oz. to 10½ oz. a day has now been restored to its former level.

In both countries these rations are generally available, though earlier in the year there were reports that the fats ration in certain districts of France was not always forthcoming.

Yugoslavia. Recent information suggests that there have been local increases in bread rations in bread grain districts.

Rations in Norway are unchanged, but the quality of the bread has improved, and the fats ration, which was irregularly distributed in the early months of this year, now appears to be fully available. The improved Polish harvest is unlikely to lead to any improvement of the present meagre diet of the urban population, and in those areas of Eastern Poland which are not fully self-supporting, since, judging from previous experience, any surplus will probably be requisitioned by the enemy. In view of the better harvest in Greece, the improvement in recent months in the food situation in Athens and other Greek cities and towns seems likely to be maintained.