§ 67. Sir Frank Sandersonasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that, prior to the war, the United Kingdom imported about two-thirds of the en tire Egyptian cotton seed crop, the average tonnage imported during the five years, 1935 to 1939, being, approximately, 312,000 tons per annum, where as today we are receiving none; and, in view of the fact that we are in need of this cotton seed today which would be a valuable addition to our supplies of edible oils, has he approached the Egyptian Government to inquire if, and when, the supplies of Egyptian cotton seed are likely to be again available.
§ Dr. SummerskillDuring the war the acreage under cotton in Egypt was greatly reduced to permit of a large in crease in food production. Taking Egypt and the Sudan together, only small surpluses of cotton seed have, during the past few years, been available for export to this country. My right hon. Friend is securing and will continue to secure all the supplies he can from these sources.
§ Sir F. SandersonIs the hon. Lady aware that Egypt is using the products of the seed, namely, oil and cakes, partly for fertiliser and partly as fuel owing to the shortage of coal? Would it not be possible to make arrangements whereby we could ship coal in exchange for the cotton seed, which would increase the equivalent amount of margarine available to this country by over 1,000 tons a week?
§ Dr. SummerskillWe are quite pre pared to take the exportable surplus, but unfortunately it is not there.