§ 44. Major BRAITHWAITEasked the Minister of Agriculture the average transportation and handling charges on wheat, oats, and barley from the farmer to his customer; and if he can give comparative figures on imports of this class?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Guinness)I am afraid that it is impossible to compile average figures for the whole country which would be of any practical value. The average charge attributable to rail haulage is obtainable from published statistics, but no distinction is made between home and imported grain; further, handling charges vary according to circumstances, and in the case of imported grain, from one port to another. I will, however, see that due attention is given to the nature and incidence of these charges in a Report on the marketing of cereals which is now in preparation. Transport and handling charges were discussed in the Linlithgow Committee's Report on Cereals, Flour and Bread, issued in 1923, and figures relating to charges on wheat will be found in Annex I to the Report of the Royal Commission on Food Prices published in 1925.