§ 78. Mr. Liddallasked the Minister of Agriculture what proportion of the consumption of essential foodstuffs in Great Britain, other than beer, wines, and spirits, is home produced; and what proportion is imported from overseas?
§ The Minister of Pensions (Mr. Ramsbotham)I have been asked to reply. As the answer includes a table of figures I propose, with my hon. Friend's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ The following table shows in respect of certain foodstuffs the approximate proportions of the average total supplies in the United Kingdom in the years 1934 to 1936 represented by home production and imports, respectively.
| Proportion of Total Supply represented by: | ||
| Home Production. | Imports. | |
| Per cent. | Per cent. | |
| Wheat and Flour (a) | 24 | 76 |
| Meat (including Rabbits and Poultry). (b) | 50 | 50 |
| Sugar (c) | 28 | 72 |
| Milk | 100 | — |
| Butter (d) | 9 | 91 |
| Cheese (d) | 28 | 72 |
| Potatoes (a) | 96 | 4 |
| Fruit, raw (e) | 32 | 68 |
| Eggs(d) | 56 | 44 |
§ (a) Total supplies for all purposes.
§ (b) Average of two years, 1934 and 1935.
§ (c) Average of two years ending April, 1936, and excludes sugar contained in imported articles. (Extracted from H.M. Customs and Excise Annual Report.)
§ (d) Based on figures extracted from publications issued by the Imperial Economic Committee.
§ (e) If fruit of kinds not produced in the United Kingdom is included, the proportions are 63 per cent. home produced and 37 per cent. imported.