§ 71. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that parcels of food sent from Canada and Australia for the aged people are now lying in the warehouses of this country; what is the reason for the delay in distribution; and if he will take the necessary steps to pass this food on to the people for whom it was intended before it becomes unfit for human consumption.
§ Dr. SummerskillI can assure my hon. Friend that there is no avoidable delay and no evidence of deterioration. My Department have distributed more than a million cases of gift food during the past two years. The present distribution amounts to 120,000 cases and we now have in store about 30,000 cases towards the next distribution, which begins next month.