HC Deb 22 April 1936 vol 311 cc145-6
30. Mr. LEWIS

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will confer with the Canadian Government as to the possibility of the Canadian Wheat Board holding part of its surplus stock in this country, with a view to increasing for the time being our available reserves of wheat in case of hostilities?

Captain EUAN WALLACE (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the reply which my right hon. Friend the Minister for Co-ordination of Defence is giving to question No. 46 to-day.

46. Mr. STOURTON

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence how many tons of wheat would be required to create a reserve of six months' supply; and whether it is the intention, bearing in mind the lessons of the last War, to create and maintain such a reserve?

The MINISTER for the CO-ORDINATION of DEFENCE (Sir Thomas Inskip)

The total annual supply of wheat, including imported flour in terms of wheat, available in the United Kingdom for all purposes has averaged about 7,200,000 tons in the last four years. On this basis six months' reserve would amount to about 3,600,000 tons. As regards the second part of the question, a special committee is now engaged on a re-examination of the whole question of food supply in an emergency.

Mr. STOURTON

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that it is useless to pile up armaments unless we are in a position to feed the people in the event of war?

Mr. EMMOTT

Is this special committee a sub-committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence and is it a committee newly appointed?

Sir T. INSKIP

Yes, Sir.

Mr. L. SMITH

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into careful consideration the advisability of storing as much wheat as possible in stacks rather than in granaries?

45. Mr. WILSON

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence what steps have been or are being taken in Sheffield for the prevention of the contamination of food supplies in the event of an air attack in which poison gas is used?

Sir T. INSKIP

I am not aware of any particular steps which have been or are being taken in Sheffield, but I am informed that the Home Office is preparing for general guidance a memorandum on the protection of food supplies against gas contamination. When this is published local authorities will be asked to take whatever precautions seem desirable, acting in collaboration with local merchants and purveyors of foodstuffs.

Mr. MANDER

Does that mean that the right hon. Gentleman is not prepared to trust the promises of the great Powers not to use poison gas in the next war?

Miss WILKINSON

Has the right hon. Gentleman any information from scientific sources as to whether it is possible to preserve any food other than tinned food from gas contamination?

Sir T. INSKIP

I should like to have notice of that question.