77. Colonel THORNEasked the Food Controller if he will state the price at which proprietors of racing or hunting studs are enabled to procure oats, and how this compares per lb. with the controlled price charged by corn dealers to persons in towns and cities who require small quantities for feeding rabbits and similar purposes; and if he will state the actual amount of subsidy paid from national taxation towards growing a quarter of oats in this country?
The MINISTER of FOOD (Mr. Roberts)Proprietors of racing and hunting studs are, like other persons, able to buy oats in the open market, the only control being the maximum price fixed by the Grain (Prices) Order. Persons who buy small quantities of oats, e.g., for feeding rabbits, etc., through local corn dealers, may in some cases pay a slightly larger price, since the Order allows dealers to charge higher prices for small retail quantities; but the difference in price is practically negligible, and probably does not exceed ½d. a lb. I may add that in many districts oats have recently been sold at prices considerably less than the maximum prices laid down in the Order. As regards the last part of the question, the growing of oats in this country is not subsidised.