HC Deb 16 December 1946 vol 431 cc1602-3
53. Mr. Somerville Hastings

asked the Minister of Agriculture what proportion of the 1946 harvest in wheat, barley and oats is in stacks which are as yet unthatched; and whether the proportion unthatched is approximately equal in each of these cereals.

Mr. T. Williams

An exact reply is not possible; but the information I have been able to collect in the time available indicates that not more than 5 per cent. of existing stacks are still unthatched. This corresponds, of course, to a much smaller percentage of the whole harvest, since much grain has been threshed already. There is little difference between the percentages of wheat, barley and oats.