HC Deb 20 July 1936 vol 315 c20
37. Mr. BELLENGER

asked the Minister of Agriculture what percentage of certified home-grown millable wheat is used for food for human consumption?

Mr. ELLIOT

Under the Wheat Act, 1932, deficiency payments are made to growers on all properly certified sales of millable wheat of their own growing without regard to the use which may be made of the wheat when sold. I have no information as to what proportion of homegrown millable wheat is used for food for human consumption.

Mr. BELLENGER

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it is desirable to try to obtain this information?

Mr. ELLIOT

No, Sir. I think it is more desirable to know that this amount of good human food is there.

Mr. T. WILLIAMS

Is it not more important to know that this good human food is being consumed by human beings? Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that we ought to know how much English grain goes to the production of human food and how much is used for cattle and poultry?

Mr. ELLIOT

I think the important thing is that the supply should be there, and I do not see that any good purpose would be served by ascertaining how much is consumed in a particular way in any one year, because the position might be quite different another year.

Mr. WILLIAMS

But is there any reason for obscuring the truth from the people?

Mr. ELLIOT

I do not think it is a question of obscuring the truth from the people. It is a question of whether a particular statistical inquiry would or would not be justified.