HC Deb 13 April 1945 vol 409 cc2113-4W
Captain Gammans

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can give any further information about the despatch of supplies for the civil population of the Channel Islands and about the evacuation of sick persons.

Mr. H. Morrison

The Red Cross relief ship "Vega" recently arrived in the Islands with her fourth cargo of relief supplies. This included further consignments of flour, yeast, salt, Red Cross food parcels, soap and medical and surgical supplies, in addition to sugar, clothing, footwear, boot repairing material, matches, candles, flints, hospital equipment, seeds for crops for civilian consumption and for cattle fodder, and a small supply of liquid fuel. I would like to take this opportunity of acknowledging the generosity of the American Red Cross and the Canadian Red Cross in putting stocks of clothing and some children's footwear at the disposal of His Majesty's Government as a free gift to the civil population of the Islands and the work which the Women's Voluntary Services for Civil Defence speedily carried out in assembling and packing the supplies. I regret that it is not yet possible to make any statement about the supply of coal to the Islands or the evacuation of sick persons. Both matters involve the use of an additional vessel, but the House will be glad to know that two doctors of neutral nationality who will act as a medical commission for the selection of sick persons for evacuation, travelled to the Islands on the "Vega's" fourth voyage, and should by now have started their task.

Viscount Hinchinģbrooke

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish a list of the supplies taken to the Channel Islands in each of the three trips made by the ss. "Vega."

Mr. Morrison

The supplies carried to the Channel Islands from Lisbon by the ss. "Vega" on her first three voyages were as follows:

First cargo.

  • 119,792 Red Cross Food Parcels.
  • 4,200 Invalid Diet Supplement Food Parcels.
  • 4,137 Kilos (about 4 tons) soap.
  • 5,265 Kilos (about 5.2 tons) salt.
  • 37 cwts. mixed medical and surgical supplies.
  • 96,000 cigarettes.
  • A small quantity of children's clothing and layettes.

Second Cargo.

  • 134,656 Red Cross Food Parcels.
  • 4,200 Invalid Diet Supplement Food Parcels.
  • 5,645 Kilos (about 5.5 tons) tobacco and cigarettes.
  • One parcel of hearing aid for the deaf.
  • 20 tons of mixed medical supplies from Messrs. Boots.
  • Small consignment of anaesthetics.
  • 200 Kilos (about 4 cwt.) seeds.
  • 4 cwt. shoe leather.
  • 12 tons salt.

In addition to the supplies for civilians 10 tons of food parcels, and a small quantity of clothing were taken for Allied P.O.W.

Third Cargo.

  • 500 tons flour.
  • 1 ton dried yeast.
  • 72,704 Red Cross Food Parcels.
  • 1,800 Invalid Diet Supplement Food Parcels.
  • 5 tons soap.
  • 1 ton X-ray films.
  • 12 tons salt.
  • One consignment of hearing aid for the deaf.
  • One consignment of miscellaneous medical supplies.
  • 1,400 litres of petrol for doctors' cars and ambulances.