§ 39. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the hardships that can be caused to the people of this country by speculation and gambling in American and other supplies of wheat, the Government propose to take steps to increase the supplies of home-grown food and to insist that British land is put to 558 its most productive use; and, if so, will he outline these steps?
§ Sir HARRY VERNEYThe Board have been keeping and will continue to keep the question of the supplies of home-grown food under close observation, and they have issued advice on many points to farmers and others, with the concurrence of the Agricultural Consultative Committee and with the co-operation of the agricultural colleges, farm institutes, and the Press. So far as can be ascertained, energetic endeavours have been made by farmers, notwithstanding a shortage of labour and unfavourable weather conditions, to increase the acreage under cereals this year.
§ 41. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he has written a letter to the London Corn Trade Association, stating that the Government will not make any further purchases of wheat; whether this declaration was made in response to representations from the corn trade; whether he will state the extent of these State purchases; and whether, in deciding to abandon future buying, the Government have assured themselves that they are best serving national interests as well as the corn interests?
§ Sir HARRY VERNEYI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on Thursday, the 22nd April, to the hon. Member for the West Toxteth Division of Liverpool, to which I have nothing to add.