§ 33. Mr. G. HARVEYasked the Minister of Aggriculture if, in view of our increasing dependence on food imports, there has been any recent increase in food production at Home; and to what extent?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Guinness)The calculation of the fluctuations in the volume of production of agriculture as a whole presents many difficulties, and I regret that I am not at present in a position to measure the recent changes, if any, which have taken place. This question, however, is receiving close attention, and I anticipate that the report on this year's Census of Agricultural production which I hope will be published in the course of next year, will contain information on this point. I may remind my hon. Friend that estimates are issued annually of the production of certain agricultural crops.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSHave the Government taken any steps towards increasing the agricultural acreage for food production at home?
§ Mr. GUINNESSThe hon. Member is quite aware of what has been done by legislation.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSWhy have the Government not done anything in this matter?
§ Mr. GUINNESSI think they have. There is the sugar-beet subsidy, only to mention one thing, and that has done a tremendous amount of good.
§ Mr. HARVEYIn view of the fact that 88 per cent. of our food was imported from abroad last year, is this not an extremely serious matter?
§ Mr. GUINNESSI question whether that figure is at the present time applicable. Curiously enough, for the last 11 months pretty nearly all our importations of foreign foodstuffs are down.