§ Sir A. SINCLAIRasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what was the total amount of oats and oatmeal purchased and consumed by his Department in each of the last five years; what proportion of these amounts was homegrown and home-milled; and what was the average price paid in each year?
§ Sir A. SINCLAIRasked the Secretary of State for War what was the total amount of oats and oatmeal purchased and consumed by his Department in each of the last five years; what proportion of these amounts was home-grown and home-milled; and what was the average price paid in each year?
§ Mr. SHAWAs regards oats, I am not in a position to give actual quantities purchased and consumed. The following table gives the estimated quantities, excluding the requirements of small camps. The amount involved in the case of the latter is inconsiderable.
Period of one year from 1st May. Estimated quantities. Rough average price per cwt. Approximate proportion home-grown Tons. s. d. Per cent. 1925–26 … 26,000 9 6 23 1926–27 … 20,600 10 0 63 1927–28 … 25,300 10 0 95 1928–29 … 20,400 12 0 86 1929–30 … 19,600 9 6 100 As regards oatmeal other than small local requirements, the purchases for the Army and Air Force were as follows:
Period of one year from 1st May. Quantity. Rough average price per cwt. packed in tins and cases. lbs. £ s. d. 1925–26 … 86,000 1 8 0 1926–27 … 80,000 1 7 0 1927–28 … 47,000 1 10 6 1928–29 … 71,000 1 10 0 1929–30 … 98,000 1 7 0 The oatmeal was all home-milled, and is understood to have been the produce of Scotch oats.