27. Viscountess ASTORasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that large stocks of cheap Russian wheat have been imported into this country and that further large quantities have been contracted for at low prices; and whether the justification for the rise of one-halfpenny in the price of the quartern loaf has been inquired into under the Foodstuffs (Prevention of Exploitation) Act?
§ Major COLVILLE (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)I am aware that large quantities of Russian wheat have been imported into this country, but I am not aware that further large quantities have been contracted for at prices below world prices. The price of wheat is a world price and the Russian supply is a comparatively small part of the world supplies of wheat. The rise of one-half- 841 penny in the price of the loaf is in accordance with the Food Council scale, having regard to the price of flour.
28. Viscountess ASTORasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Foodstuffs (Prevention of Exploitation) Act, 1931, is being applied to operators, whether resident in this country or not, who have imported or contracted for the importation of large stocks of cheap Russian wheat, which they are selling at a price largely in excess of cost?
§ Major COLVILLEI would refer my Noble Friend to the answer given yesterday by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade to my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, East (Mr. Mander).