HC Deb 06 December 1939 vol 355 cc647-8
51. Mr. De la Bère

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the Government will take steps to include the so-called balanced rations for cattle under the Maximum Prices Order?

Mr. W. S. Morrison

These rations are covered by Section 2 (b) of the Feeding Stuffs (Maximum Prices) Order.

Mr. De la Bère

Is my right hon. Friend aware that these compound mixtures are not so successful as raw materials; and does he not realise that if they are not balanced and not economic, it would be better to do away with them altogether?

Mr. Morrison

That is another question.

52. Mr. De la Bère

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will have some inquiry made regarding the allocation of supplies of grain at Bristol?

Mr. Morrison

I have already made inquiries regarding the system of allocating supplies of feeding grain at Bristol and other ports, and I understand that the plan introduced about four weeks ago, whereby supplies are allocated by port committees to c.i.f. importers on the basis of their pre-war imports, is working satisfactorily at Bristol.

Mr. De la Bère

Is my right hon. Friend aware that Evesham is an important agricultural centre and that farmers there are unable to get distribution of feeding-stuffs; and will he kindly look into the matter?

69. Dr. Little

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, seeing that a large quota of cattle and pigs are shipped from Northern Ireland to Great Britain, and that this shipment may be seriously diminished through the prevailing shortage of food for cattle and pigs, he will make provision for a larger quantity of feeding-stuff to be assigned to Northern Ireland?

Mr. Morrison

Since the beginning of the war Northern Ireland has received as large a percentage of its normal requirements of imported feeding-stuffs as other parts of the United Kingdom, and every effort will be made to ensure the continuance of this policy.