§ 100. Major COURTHOPEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether there is a large unsatisfied demand for millers' offals for the feeding of livestock; that farmers are frequently charged more than £18 per ton for bran, though they are unable to obtain the guaranteed price of £16 per ton for wheat; whether export of millers' offals is permitted; and what steps are being taken to increase the supply and reduce the price of these feeding-stuffs?
§ Mr. McCURDYI have been asked to reply. The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As has already been announced, there is such an accumulation of millers' offals in certain districts that, although the price has been reduced, the normal production of flour has been threatened owing to congestion of the mills. Export of these offals has accordingly been permitted as an emergency measure to the extent of one quarter of one week's output. As regards the latter part of the question, farmers may not be charged more than the maximum price under the Cattle Feeding-stuffs (Maximum Prices) Order, 1918, and amendments thereof which, apart from some minor exceptions, is £13 per ton, ex-mill with bags returnable. There is no guaranteed price for the 1918 British wheat crop other than that contained in the Corn Production Act.
§ Captain Sir BEVILLE STANIERHas any of this been exported out of the country?
§ Mr. McCURDYThe permission to export offals, if my memory serves me correctly, was only given about a fortnight ago, and I have no information yet as to what has happened.