§ 33. Sir G. Foxasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the arrangements for distributing food parcels are still inadequate in those districts where there are no local mayors, and where deserving old people are living on new housing estates and are not individually known to local authorities; and whether he will reorganise the present methods of distribution to ensure that all such persons have an opportunity of receiving a share of such parcels.
§ Mr. StracheyI do not share the hon. and gallant Member's view that the arrangements are inadequate. In rural districts such as I believe he has in mind the rural district council handle the distribution of these welfare gifts in conjunction with representatives of welfare organisations like the W.V.S., Women's Institutes, and the Red Cross, and my experience is that they take the greatest care to see that the gifts reach the most deserving people, often employing the 225W good offices of individual parish councils. The work involved is considerable, has been carried out on an entirely voluntary basis and the selection of recipients must be left to local discretion. As my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary told the hon. Member on 31st January, the Distributing Committees are always ready to consider individual cases if details are given to them.