§ 11. Mr. KINGasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that Mr. Herbert Hoover has stated in America that unless the United States doubles its normal export of food, France, England, and Italy will all run short of food before October; whether this statement was made on the strength of information supplied by the Food Control Department; and whether, during the past six weeks, the food imported from America has been double the normal amount or double the amount received in the corresponding weeks of last year?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY Of FOOD (Captain Bathurst)I have made careful inquiry but have failed to trace any statement by Mr. Hoover which could possibly be interpreted in the sense conveyed by the first part of this question. It is not considered to be in the public interest to publish information as to imported food-stuffs. I may state, however, that it is of great importance to the success of the Allied cause that the export of foodstuffs from America should be on the highest possible scale for the remainder of the War.