§ Mr. Llewellynasked the Minister of Food under what regulations the stepmother of Mr. Geoffrey Holdsworth, then a hospital patient at No. 1 Distinguoidus Hospital, Provincial, Plama de Mallaca, Baleares, Spain, was prevented from sending him honey; and what steps he will take to ensure that the sick away from home will not be denied similar small comforts.
§ Mr. WebbThe facts given in a letter in "Time and Tide" of 11th March, on which I understand the Question is based, do not enable me to reply with certainty, but I expect that the parcel was refused by the Post Office because it did not conform with the gift parcel regulations in Article 4 of the Export of Goods (Control) Order, 1949, which require unrationed food to be accompanied by an equal weight of rationed food. These regulations are necessary to prevent serious diversion of unrationed food from this country, but where they would lead to hardship every consideration will be 99W given to an application for an Export Licence made to the Board of Trade. However, if the hon. Member has any additional information on this particular case, I should be obliged if he would let me have it in the hope that I might do something useful.