§ Sir A. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now state whether the transport of prisoners of war parcels 1818W from Lisbon to Marseilles, suspended on 16th May, has been resumed; on what date the ships left Lisbon; and how many parcels they carried.
§ Sir J. GriggYes, Sir. Four ships sailed on 6th November. Their cargoes included 300,000 standard food parcels for prisoners of war from the British Commonwealth.
§ Sir A. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that the railway from Marseilles to Geneva is now carrying the two trains per week required for the transport of prisoners of war pacels; and whether he has taken steps to ensure that the parcels on arrival at Marseilles will be forwarded at once to Geneva.
§ Sir J. GriggAs I said to my hon. and gallant Friend on 7th November, the volume of traffic for the carriage of parcels onwards from Marseilles goes beyond anything we could have expected a month ago in view of the unavoidable effect on communications of a retiring enemy and of advancing Allied operations. I understand that Red Cross supplies are at present leaving Marseilles daily in sufficient quantity. So long as operations continue I cannot guarantee that this traffic will never have to be held up for military reasons, but I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that all possible steps have been taken to ensure that the flow is maintained.
§ Sir A. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for War whether consignments of prisoners of war parcels have yet been despatched direct from Britain to Marseilles.
§ Sir J. GriggYes, Sir.