§ 78. Commander Nobleasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that there are people in this country who wish to send food parcels to relatives and friends in Europe; and what steps he is 192W taking to make this possible, if only on a small scale in special circumstances.
§ Mr. StracheyIn the first place our policy is that the country as a whole, and not individuals, must shoulder this nation's part in the task of world wide relief, and I need not recall to the House that we have recently foregone no less than 400,000 tons of wheat in this cause. These figures must necessarily dwarf anything which can be accomplished by individuals. I must also call the hon. Member's attention to the Prime Minister's statement on 4th April last, in which the objections to any voluntary collections of food for relief abroad were stated. The administrative difficulties of permitting the sending of individual parcels abroad, while not permitting the voluntary collection of food, are formidable. Nevertheless I recognise the intense and generous impulse of individuals in this country to send food parcels to Europe and elsewhere, and I will give careful consideration to this matter.