HC Deb 02 March 1938 vol 332 cc1105-6
48. Mr. R. Acland

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether steps have been taken to make use of the cold-storage accommodation available in the country for the purpose of food storage; and whether the owners of these establishments have been invited to cooperate with the Government in this matter?

47. Mr. Denville

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether he is aware that of the total cold-storage accommodation available in England and Wales, amounting to approximately 300,000 tons, only one-third is at present being utilised; and whether in view of the important bearing of this upon the food storage policy of the Government, he will ascertain whether steps can be taken to ensure its better utilisation?

The Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence (Sir Thomas Inskip)

I would refer the hon. Members to the answer given yesterday on behalf of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to my hon. Friend the Member for Stourbridge (Mr. Morgan).

49. Mr. Parker

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether, in view of their importance in the case of national emergency, he will give the latest available figures of the total tonnage of all foodstuffs grown in the United Kingdom for human consumption, excluding wheat and other products used for animal fodder and the offals of milled wheat, and the total tonnage of feeding stuffs imported for animal consumption, including the offals of milled wheat and the fodder content of oil seeds and of imported fertilisers?

Sir T. Inskip

Estimates of the quantities of each of the principal foodstuffs grown in the United Kingdom and used for human consumption in the years 1934–35 have been published in the report of the Advisory Committee on Nutrition. The hon. Member will, however, realise that owing to the widely differing nature of the products, a statement in terms of tonnage is likely to be misleading. The total weight of animal feedingstuffs imported into the United Kingdom direct or derived from imported materials is estimated at about 9,000,000 tons in 1936.

Mr. Parker

Does the right hon. Gentleman still find this a baffling problem?