§ Mr. Gammansasked the Secretary of State for War on whose authority the British Military Administration in Malaya has forbidden the distribution of rice to rural areas; to what extent this indicates a threatened shortage of foodstuffs; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with the situation.
§ Mr. BellengerIt is correct that as a result of some years of Japanese occupation there is a shortage of rice in the Far East. The quantities available from those territories which normally have an exportable surplus are greatly reduced, while the sudden collapse of Japan has meant that the deficiency areas, of which Malaya is one, all became immediate claimants on the impoverished resources of the Supreme Allied Commander. It is with the intention of making the best use of available imports that steps have been taken by the Supreme Allied Commander to limit distribution at present to urban areas, which have less facilities for feeding from indigenous crops than rural areas. The whole problem of meeting the essential needs of Malaya and other deficiency areas by increasing imports of rice and other foodstuffs, stimulating native production and speeding up distribution has been and is receiving the close attention of my right hon. Friend and other Ministers concerned.