§ Mr. W. Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make an announcement on the food situation in Singapore; to what extent the importation of the principal foodstuffs is controlled by Government and to what extent private enterprise is free to import them; whether rice has been obtained from Siam; and what arrangements have been or are being made to this end.
Mr. Creech JonesOn the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 9th October to my hon. Friend the Member for South Croydon (Mr. Rees-Williams) and to the hon. Member for Hornsey (Mr. Gammans). The importation of the principal foodstuffs into Singapore Colony is controlled by the Government through the issue of import licences. Rice and other cereals, sugar, meat and a few other foodstuffs are at present imported directly on Government account. Orders for some other foodstuffs placed on Government account shortly after liberation of the territory are being completed. With these exceptions foodstuffs may be imported by-private importers provided they have obtained import licences. In reply to the last part of the Question, rice supplies have been obtained from Siam, according to allocations made by the International314W Emergency Food Council. The rice is bought by the Ministry of Food acting through the British Rice Unit in Siam.