§ 20. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Agriculture approximately the proportion of food for human consumption produced in this country and imported from abroad during 1931?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Sir John Gilmour)The latest available figures are those contained in the report on the Agricultural Output and Food Sup- 142 plies of Great Britain published by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in 1929. These estimates were based chiefly on the years 1924–7, and showed that in the case of foodstuffs, including fish, normally produced in Great Britain the value of the home production was 44.9 per cent, of the total. The comparable figure for all foodstuffs was 39.3 per cent. Similar calculations will, it is hoped, be made in connection with the agricultural and industrial censuses for 1930, but the results cannot be available for some considerable time.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSCan the right hon. Gentleman give us any idea when this publication is likely to be available to Members?
§ Sir J. GILMOURNo, Sir; but it will probably be a couple of years at least.