§ 33. Mr. Hurdasked the President of the Board of Trade if any of the 1944 and 1945 flax crops grown under contract for his Department still remain on farms; and if he will state the tonnages of fibre and linseed involved.
§ Sir S. CrippsOn 31st May, 1946, there was on the farms an estimated weight of 851 37,000 tons of flax grown under contract during 1944 and 1945. The quantity outstanding from 1944 was very small. Until the crop is processed, the actual tonnages of fibre and seed involved can only be estimated. On the basis of average yields, the weight of fibre to be expected is approximately 2,400 tons and of seed approximately 3,300 tons.
§ Mr. HurdAs we do not seem to have been very successful in buying linseed from the Argentine, would it not be a very good idea to use these 3,000 tons of linseed on our own farms?
§ Sir S. CrippsWe shall, no doubt, use it as soon as it is available.