§ 22. Mr. TINKERasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his Department is kept informed of the various crops of foodstuffs grown in this country, the amount that is gathered for use and sale, and the quantity, if any, left ungathered because it would be unprofitable to market?
§ Mr. ELLIOTEstimates of the total production of the more important crops are compiled annually in my Department. No information is obtained regarding the quantity that is unsecured for any reason.
§ Mr. TINKERWould it not be as well if the right hon. Gentleman tried to get this information?
§ Mr. ELLIOTIt is extremely difficult to differentiate between foodstuffs destroyed by the weather and those which are not. It is impracticable to get a return of the amount.
§ Mr. H. G. WILLIAMSIf my right hon. Friend gives further thought to this problem, will he prepare an estimate of the weight of blackberries which are not gathered each year?