§ 23. Colonel GRETTONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture what quantity of malt remains to be exported from the United Kingdom under contracts already sanctioned; and if any further export of malt will be licensed when these contracts are finished?
Mr. HARCOURTMy hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. From inquiries which have been made by my Department it appears that considerable 506 stocks of malt have been manufactured during the recent malting season which have been specially prepared for the brewing of lager beer and for which there is no market in this country. As at present advised I see no advantage in refusing to allow the export of malt of this description, but I am considering whether such export should not be confined to British Possessions and to the territories of our Allies; and, further, whether exports to our Allies should not be limited, so far as possible, to cases in which it can be shown that it is required for brewing beer for the British or Allied troops. Communications with the English and Scottish Boards of Agriculture are, however, still proceeding. I have no precise information as to the amount of these stocks, but I will take steps to procure it.
§ Colonel GRETTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that malt, which he describes as specially prepared for lager beer, can easily and at small expense be converted for ordinary use for English ales?