§ 25. General Sir IVOR PHILIPPSasked the President of the Board of Agriculture what is the approximate average price per 100 lbs. which a farmer receives for wheat, barley and oats fit for human consumption delivered at corn dealers' stores; what is the approximate average price per 100 lbs. a farmer receives for wheat, barley and oats which is damaged and not fit for human consumption; what is the approximate average price a farmer has to pay for barley meal or compound prepared meals for cattle and pig feeding; and what is the approximate average cost to a farmer of hauling the above from farm to market per 100 lbs. per mile?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of FOOD (Major Astor)I have been asked to reply. The approximate average price per 100 lbs. of home-grown wheat, barley and oats fit for human consumption delivered by the farmer to dealers' stores, in accordance with the custom of the district, is 15s. In case of delivery outside the accustomed range an additional charge of 9d. per ton 1095 per mile may be made for the extra distance. The approximate average price per 100 lbs. of these articles when unfit for human consumption is 13s. 9d. The price of compound meals for cattle is controlled under Clause 1 (c) of the Cattle Feeding-stuffs (Maximum Prices) Order, 1918, which prescribes that a manufacturer may only charge the actual cost of the ingredients used plus the cost of manufacture and profit, such addition not to exceed 30s. per ton. On this basis the maximum price for dairy meals range from £16 17s. 6d. to £17 5s. per ton, according to the proportion of oil and albuminoids employed. The fourth part of the question is of a somewhat hypothetical character. I may add that a new Cereal Meals Order is in preparation which should control more effectively the quality and price of cereal meals.