HC Deb 28 January 1943 vol 386 cc597-9
28. Sir A. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can give any information regarding reported shortage of grain in local markets in India; to what extent this is the result of hoarding by banias; and what steps the Government of India is taking to deal with the matter?

29. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has further information respecting the shortage of food-stuffs in India; approximately the number who are already affected; and whether the export of grain and food will be prohibited immediately, both to provide for the present emergency and to build up stores against future dangerous contingencies?

Mr. Amery

Since the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Sir S. Reed) last week, to which I would invite attention, the Government of India have published a statement giving as their opinion that if hoarded stocks can be got on the market and fairly distributed there is little danger of the people having to go seriously short. There is no famine and no widespread prevalence of acute shortage, though a large- part of the urban population is doubtless affected. The Commerce Member indeed has pointed out that the supplies available are as good as in five out of the past ten years. The difficulty is to get them on the market and the Government of India have announced, as measures to that end, the removal of the maximum price for wheat, the establishment of a Government purchasing agency and arrangements with His Majesty's Government for the import of substantial shipments of wheat, to be sold and distributed under Government supervision to the final consumers in deficiency areas. It is expected that the price of this wheat will be less than that prevailing in the free market. The Government of India have already announced their intention to prohibit exports of food-stuffs after March, this delay being necessary to allow for alternative sources of supply to be arranged for the territories concerned. Exports are, however, very small in relation to total supplies and their cessation will not greatly affect the situation.

Sir A. Knox

Is my right hon. Friend aware that 90 per cent. of the populations of towns purchase their food daily? Is he sure that banias, or the middle men, are not storing or hoarding this grain in order to get a higher price?

Mr. Amery

All these matters are under consideration.

Mr. Sorensen

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered as a general policy the possibility of fixing a retail price for all food-stuffs consumed?

Mr. Amery

The hon. Member seems to be under a misapprehension. These are matters within the cognisance of the Government of India, and although the Government of India have not Dominion self-government they still deal, in most of these matters, with their own affairs, and it is undesirable: that the Secretary of State should interfere.

Mr. Sorensen

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that he often makes representations to the Government of India? Cannot he make a recommendation along these lines? Will he find out whether the Government of India are proceeding along this line?

Mr. Amery

There has been consultation on all these matters, and the Government of India are doing all they possibly can.

Mr. Sorensen

Including the fixing of prices?

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