asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government are taking steps to relieve the distress by the provision of food to the people of the Honan Province of China, consequent upon the famine which has befallen these people?

Owing to transport difficulties it would unfortunately be impracticable in present circumstances to transport supplies of food into China from outside on any effective scale. But funds have been contributed by charitable organisations in this country towards the extensive relief work which the Chinese Government have themselves been undertaking, a portion of the sums received from the United Aid to China Fund having been allocated for this purpose by Madame Chiang Kai-shek. A donation was also sent by the former British Fund for the Relief of Distress in China.