HC Deb 25 March 1948 vol 448 cc3355-60
The Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Thomas Williams)

I appreciate what you said earlier, Mr. Speaker, about Ministers' statements and I will bear it in mind between now and Whitsuntide, but with the leave of the House, I would like to make the following statement:

In the announcement made on 21st August last about the agricultural expansion programme it was indicated that, so far as could then be foreseen, increased quantities of feedingstuffs from abroad should become available by 1949. In the meantime the target acreages for wheat and barley were raised in order that 20 per cent. of both of these crops might be retained on the farm without reducing the amount available for human consumption.

The Government have now completed a survey of present and prospective supplies of animal feedingstuffs, home produced and imported. Large increases in imports have in fact been made, particularly under the recent trade agreements with Russia and the Argentine, and maize imports this year have been running appreciably higher than at the corresponding period last year, but the light home crops last harvest and the continuing world scarcity of broad grains for human consumption make it necessary to exercise prudence. It is therefore impossible to increase rations for any class of livestock for the rationing period beginning 1st May, 1948, having regard to the significant increase in numbers of poultry and breeding pigs compared with a year ago. The higher ration scales now in force and the permitted retention of grain from the 1948 crops, should suffice to maintain this larger pig and poultry population. Increases in ration scales can only be made when there is assurance of adequate supplies to honour ration coupons over a reasonably long period ahead.

In the meantime, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I are examining the possibility of modify- ing the present method of rationing pigs and poultry so that some rations may be allowed for these classes of stock on holdings which are not now entitled to a basic ration but on which the occupiers would propose to keep pigs or poultry. Such an extension of the scope of the rationing scheme will have first consideration whenever further supplies of feedingstuffs become available.

As I have already announced, pig and poultry keepers can rest assured that present ration scales, including the customary seasonal increase for poultry during the summer months when young pullets for replacement are being reared, will continue without reduction up to 3oth April, 1949. In addition, those pig and poultry keepers who grow wheat or barley will have for the use of their stock up to 20 per cent. of their barley and wheat from the 1948 crop, or an allowance of coarse grains in substitution.

I am aware that our inability to improve ration scales or to widen immediately the scope of the rationing scheme for pigs and poultry will be a cause of disappointment, but despite our recent successes in buying greatly increased quantities of feeding stuffs in very adverse world market conditions, it would be impossible to justify increased allocations above the present level, in the absence of better reasons for confidence that improved rations could be sustained.

Captain Crookshank

In view of what you have said, Mr. Speaker, about Ministerial statements being made on these occasions, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman if there is anything new at all in the very disappointing remarks which he has just addressed to us?

Mr. Williams

Yes, Sir. The statement is all new to those hundreds of thousands of farmers who are, waiting in the expectation of hearing, I imagine, of increased rations, which, unfortunately, they cannot be given.

Captain Crookshank

As the Minister has summarised what he has said as meaning that there is no chance of any improvement during the present period, does it not, therefore, mean that the promises held out by the Lord President of the Council in August have, as usual, failed to fructify?

Mr. Williams

The right hon. and gallant Gentleman has absolutely misconceived my statement. I said that there was no likelihood of an increase in the rations on 1st May this year, but I did not say anything about the whole of the ration year.

Mr. Driberg

Can my right hon. Friend say whether, with regard to his quite new announcement—[Laughter.] Well, it is; hon. Members ought to listen.

Captain Crookshank

He said it a month ago.

Mr. Driberg

No, he did not. With regard to his new announcement that he is now reviewing the possibility of varying the whole basis of the rationing scheme, can he also say how soon he is likely to be able to make a definite statement on the matter?

Mr. Williams

No statement would be of value unless it increased the supplies of feedingstuffs available for the purpose of broadening the basis. We are working out a scheme so that when supplies are available we shall be ready.

Mr. Baldwin

In view of the extremely disappointing statement which has just been made, will the Minister consider asking his Leader to transfer the purchasing of animal feedingstuffs from the Ministry of Food to the Ministry of Agriculture? We have failed so far to see any co-operation between those two Ministries. Will the Minister also tell me why it is necessary to export steel and coal from this country to Holland only to bring back agricultural products which we can well produce in this country? Why could they not be exported to Russia and the Argentine, where coarse grains are available—

Mr. Speaker

This question is becoming a speech.

Mr. Spence

Will the right hon. Gentleman make a definite representation to his colleagues in the Cabinet that the policy of buying finished products instead of feedingstuffs to enable us to produce food has led to the present situation?

Mr. Williams

The House must be aware that the Government are buying coarse grains in any part of the world where those grains exist.

Mr. Joynson-Hicks

Are we to understand that the re-allocation of foodstuffs to new domestic pig and poultry keepers, or to new allotment keepers of pigs and poultry is solely dependent upon available supplies being received and not upon the reserve of supplies which the right hon. Gentleman has already accumulated?

Mr. Williams

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Driberg

Could my right hon. Friend explain a little further that point, and say whether the completion of his review is dependent on the completion of deliveries, or simply on the signing of agreements?

Mr. Williams

The decision can only be taken when we know that those supplies will be made available for distribution, and I hope hon. Members will not expect me to promise rations to the agricultural industry to encourage breeding when ultimately there will be no rations for the purpose of feeding the animals or birds they have produced.

Mr. Eccles

May I ask the Minister two questions? First, when he enlarges the number of poultry keepers and pig keepers, will he give ex-Service men any preference? Secondly, I think he said those growers of barley and wheat who choose to sell all their produce could claim an allowance of coarse grains in substitution. On what basis will that allowance be claimable? Will it be what the farmer says he needs for his stock, or will it be some minute quantity fixed by the Minister?

Mr. Williams

Should the wheat position become so acute that bread for human consumption was in danger, only then would it not be possible for farmers to retain 20 per cent. of their wheat this year on the farms to feed to their own livestock. However, if they were not able to retain that 20 per cent. of wheat, then they have a definite guarantee of its equivalent in weight and value of coarse grains to substitute for the wheat.

Mr. Eccles

Will the Minister say anything about ex-Service men?

Mr. Williams

We have always given some little preference, to crippled ex-Service men at all events.

Mr. J. S. C. Reid

I understood the right hon. Gentleman to say that we were buying foodstuffs wherever available. Did he not read the statement made in this House by the Minister of Food that he deliberately refrained from buying feedingstuffs which are available in the Argentine?

Mr. Williams

If the right hon. and learned Member expects His Majesty's Government to pay any fancy price that any government in any part of the world cares to ask, then I hope he will inform his constituents that that is his financial conception of things.

Mr. Reid

I was only seeking accuracy from the right hon. Gentleman.

Sir Richard Acland

Is there any prospect of changing the basis of allocation of poultry feedingstuffs from the number of birds kept, to the number of eggs supplied to a packing station? Is that under discussion?

Mr. Williams

That matter has been examined many times.

Mr. Wilson Harris

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker, would it be possible to move the Closure of this Debate?

An Hon. Member

Give the farmers a chance.

Mr. Speaker

I am afraid it is impossible to move the Closure, though it would not be received unfavourably by me, I must say.

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

May I ask the Minister of Agriculture and his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether they are aware that this statement will cause the deepest possible disappointment in farming areas all over Scotland?

Major Tufton Beamish

Could the right hon. Gentleman tell the House what success has attended the Government's efforts to buy a part, at any rate, of the large exportable surplus of feedingstuffs for livestock which was known to exist in Roumania as long ago as last September? Can he tell the House something about that?

Mr. Williams

My information is that whatever coarse grain Roumania has been willing to sell on reasonable terms sometimes it is a question of actual hard cash, sometimes it is a question of supplying equipment from this country that we do not happen to possess—has been accepted. As far as I am aware, all reasonable offers have been accepted by us.