HC Deb 15 March 1937 vol 321 cc1634-6
59. Mr. De Chair

asked the Minister of Agriculture by how much the home production of food was increased in Great Britain during the first, second, third, and fourth years of the Great War, respectively?

Mr. W. S. Morrison

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 reply:

Statement showing the estimated volume of production of the principal foods produced in Great Britain, expressed as a percentage of production in the year 1914:
— 1914. 1915. 1916. 1917. 1918.
Wheat 100 116 93 98 143
Barley 100 73 82 88 95
Oats 100 108 105 115 147
Potatoes 100 95 75 110 133
Meat 100 101 tot 98 85
Eggs 100 100 100 89 82
Milk 100 99 93 87 76
60. Lieut.-Colonel Heneage

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the total weight of foodstuffs required to feed the present human population of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, either in tonnage or in terms of cubic capacity; and what is the estimated total weight of foodstuffs for human consumption now produced in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in tonnage or in terms of cubic capacity?

Mr. Morrison

It is not possible to give a composite figure of the total weight of foodstuffs required to feed the human population of the United Kingdom. Such a figure would include foodstuffs of so diverse a nature that an aggregate in terms of weight or cubic capacity would have little meaning. For figures showing the proportion of the total, supply of the more important foodstuffs represented by home production and imports, respectively, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions to my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Mr. Liddall) on 9th March, of which I am sending him a copy.

Lieut.-Colonel Heneage

If my right hon. Friend has not got information in his possession as to the total tonnage of food required, how can he say how much is required for the population in time of emergency?

Mr. Morrison

It is not really a question of weight at all; it is a question rather of the nutritive value of the food involved.

Lieut.-Colonel Heneage

Is not the question of weight a question of the tonnage that could be carried on ships?

61. Lieut.-Colonel Heneage

asked the Minister of Agriculture the approximate weight of foodstuffs required to feed the present livestock and poultry population of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and what is the approximate weight of such foodstuffs now produced in Great Britain and Northern Ireland for this purpose?

Mr. Morrison

It is estimated that the annual food requirements of livestock and poultry in the United Kingdom amount to approximately 21,000,000 tons of starch equivalent, of which home-produced food, including grazing, represents about 15,500,000 tons. Owing to the different feeding values of the feeding stuffs consumed, starch equivalent is a better basis of comparison than weight.

Lieut.-Colonel Heneage

If my right hon. Friend can give the information as far as livestock is concerned, why cannot he give it with regard to foodstuffs for human consumption?

Mr. Morrison

Because it is easier to take, in the case of livestock, the starch equivalent as a comparable figure.