51. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Food what proportion of the 300,000,000 tons of coarse grain which have been purchased in the Argentine this year is maize; and what are the proportions of other grains suitable for cattle feeding.
§ Mr. StracheyI assume that the hon. Member is referring to my statement in the Debate on 3rd July that we had in our possession over 300 thousand tons (not 300 million tons) of coarse grains in the Argentine and Brazil, not the Argentine alone. Of this total, maize was 78 per cent., barley 21 per cent., oats 1 per cent.
Mr. De la BèreCan the right hon. Gentleman tell the House now, before the Recess, whether anything is really being done to assist the farmers to keep their livestock throughout the winter, in view of the fact that large supplies are still available in the Argentine? Never mind the noughts, they are merely a misprint.
§ Mr. StracheyIt is perfectly true that the question is of the utmost importance, and a great effort is being made to obtain coarse grains from this and any other sources available.