§ 52. Brigadier-General Clifton Brownasked the Minister of Agriculture whether; in order to ensure a six months' supply of bread being always available in this country in times of emergency and to have a weapon wherewith to control gluts and slumps in the home market, he will consider the erection of wheat storage plants in this country as part of his long term agricultural policy after the war.
Mr. HudsonThe Government have erected during the war a certain number of wheat storage and drying plants which are now under the control of my right 417 hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of Food. I am not in a position to say whether further plants will be necessary as part of the Government's long term agricultural policy, but I anticipate that many of the larger wheat growers will wish to install storage on their farms in association with combine harvesters. Any such development would, of course, add to the grain storage capacity of the country in addition to the considerable amount of storage already in the hands of millers and merchants.
§ Brigadier-General Clifton BrownWill my right hon. Friend not take the advice of the late Lord Ernle, Minister of Agriculture after the last war, for the Government to build so many wheat storage erections?
Mr. HudsonConditions at the end of the last war and after this one will no doubt prove to be very different.