HC Deb 24 February 1930 vol 235 cc1863-4
60. Mr. W. B. TAYLOR

asked the Minister of Agriculture, in view of the high price of beer and the low price of home-grown barley, if he will invite all British brewers to assist arable agriculture by using all home-grown barley for malting purposes; and whether the names of such firms thus co-operating may he published to this House?

Mr. N. BUXTON

I have recently been assured on behalf of the brewers that they are always anxious to use, in the manufacture of beer, as high a percentage as possible of English ingredients. In these circumstances, I do not think that a useful purpose would be served by adopting my hon. Friends suggestion.

Mr. TAYLOR

Under the exceptional circumstances of the barley trade in this country, does not my right hon. Friend consider that an appeal to the brewers might yield better results?

Mr. BUXTON

I am in communication with the Brewers Society in that sense.

Mr. EDE

May I ask whether the price of beer follows the price of barley?

Mr. WISE

Will my right hon. Friend consider the setting up of an Import Control Board so as to make sure that all British malting barley is taken into consumption before any imported barley is used?

Mr. BUXTON

Perhaps my hon. Friend will put down a question as the matter hardly arises on this question.