44. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Prime Minister whether he will find time for a Debate on the Motion, standing in the name of the hon. Member for Evesham, relating to maximum food production for 1942 in the United Kingdom?
[That this House notes the supreme national importance of a maximum output of home-produced food at this critical period of the war; recalls the promise of the Government to adjust farm prices to meet the increased wages to farmworkers and generally increased costs on the farm which amount to approximately £15,000,000 for the whole of 1942; regrets that the Treasury are endeavouring to evade this obligation, or at the best to whittle it down to an infinitesimal and inequitable amount; and as our expenditure on the war is some £15,000,000 a day, urges on the Government the necessity of giving effect to an immediate settlement of this matter, which should never have been allowed to reach the present deadlock.]
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Sir Stafford Cripps)I regret that I can hold out no hope of a special opportunity being given to discuss the Motion standing in the name of my hon. Friend. As I stated on Thursday last, in answer to a Question arising out of the Business Statement, this is a matter which can be raised on a Supply Day.
Mr. De la BèreIs not my right hon. and learned Friend aware that food is a munition of war, and why will not the War Cabinet give instructions to the Treasury to sanction such increases in farm prices as would ensure the maximum output? We are told there is to be a further cut in rations because of the shortage of shipping space. Why is money allowed to come before food? Should not food come before money?
§ Sir S. CrippsThe Members of the War Cabinet are quite aware of the importance of food, and I understand that a satisfactory arrangement has been come to with the farmers on this subject.
§ Sir S. CrippsI can only speak from my own knowledge.