§ 26. Sir W. Darlingasked the Minister of Food what amount of rolled and packeted oats have been imported into the United Kingdom in 1946; if such importations are a temporary expedient; and what plans he has, in association with the Ministry of Agriculture, to stimulate oat production in the United Kingdom to obviate the necessity in future of importing and make the United Kingdom selfsupporting in this essential cereal.
§ Mr. StracheyDuring the first 10 months of this year we have imported 570 tons of rolled oats, including 135 tons of packeted rolled oats. My right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture and the Secretary of State for Scotland have encouraged producers to grow the maximum quantity of oats consistent with an adequate production of bread cereals, potatoes and sugar beet. For details of production in Scotland I would refer the 1248 hon. Member to a reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland on 8th October, 1946.
§ Sir W. DarlingArising out of the first part of that answer does not the Minister think that if we are to import rolled oats into this country, it would be better to import them in bulk rather than packeted, thereby giving an opportunity for packeting and processing in this country?
§ Mr. StracheyYes, Sir, and, as the hon. Gentleman will see, far the greater part of this import was in bulk.