§ 49. Mr. DONNERasked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether the special sub-committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence set up to examine the problem of food supplies in the event of war is considering the possibilities of increasing the home production of agricultural products as well as the storage of grain and other supplies?
§ Sir T. INSKIPYes, Sir.
§ 50. Mr. BENJAMIN SMITHasked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether he will consider taking by purchase the whole of the surplus wheat now stored in Canadian silos with the object of creating a reserve sufficiently large to render this country immune from any shortage in the event of war?
§ Sir T. INSKIPI have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.
§ Mr. SMITHDid the right hon. Gentleman note that the First Lord of the Admiralty, speaking last week, stated that there were not more than three weeks' supply of foodstuffs in the country in the event of war?
§ Sir T. INSKIPWith all respect to the hon. Gentleman, I think he is in error in saying that that is what the First Lord stated.
§ 52. Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEasked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence the number of weeks' supply of essential foodstuffs there are in the country at the present time?
§ Sir T. INSKIPThe stocks of different foodstuffs vary very greatly. I have already given information in regard to wheat in the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Mr. 2039 Liddall) on 10th June. If my hon. and gallant Friend will specify the other foodstuffs which he has particularly in mind, I will arrange for the information to be supplied to him.
Lieut.-Colonel AC LAND - TROYTEMay we take it that the statement attributed to the First Lord with regard to six weeks is incorrect?
§ Sir T. INSKIPThe First Lord, with all respect, did not say that we should be starved in six weeks. He said that if we had no Navy, we should suffer that fate.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND - TROYTEThat is what I asked. Is it a fact that if we had no Navy we should be starved in six weeks?
§ Sir T. INSKIPIf we had no Navy, no doubt we should suffer a great many consequences.
§ Mr. GEORGE GRIFFITHSIs it not a fact that the supply of margarine is suffering because the Army, Navy, and Air Force are eating it all up every week?