§ 47. Sir Waldron Smithersasked the Minister of Food if, in view of the fact that Denmark has large reserves of food, he will take steps to make arrangements with the Danish Government to import a proportion of it.
§ Mr. StracheySince the early days of Denmark's liberation the United Kingdom has been and still is importing substantial quantities of food from Denmark, including a large proportion of that country's exportable surpluses of bacon, butter and eggs, and substantial quantities of cheese, fish and bacon factory offals. Negotiation with the Danish Government as to future supplies are at present proceeding.
§ Sir W. SmithersIs the Minister aware that the refrigerator plant in Denmark is full to capacity, that they want coal in exchange, and that we cannot send coal owing to nationalization——
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member must ask a question, not make a statement.
§ Sir W. SmithersIs the Minister also aware that the Danes are sending a trade mission to Russia to get coal in exchange for food, and that we are likely to lose it?
§ Mr. StracheyI see no prospect of our losing the food.
§ Mr. KeelingCould we not immediately get more food from Denmark if we had coal to offer in exchange?
§ Mr. StracheyThe negotiations at present going on with the Danes do not turn on the question of coal.
§ Sir W. SmithersThey do.
§ Mr. Walter FletcherMay I ask whether Denmark will accept straight sterling, without exchange of goods?
§ Mr. StracheyThere is no question of payment or currency difficulties. There is no difficulty of that kind.