§ 30. Mr. Blackburnasked the Minister of Food whether he will make a statement on the immediate world cereals situation.
§ Mr. StracheyThe total exportable surplus of wheat and coarse grains for 1946–47 is estimated by the International Emergency Food Council at about 25 million tons. Total import requirements of wheat and coarse grains as presented to the Council are about 35 million tons. This serious gap between supply and demand will no doubt be somewhat reduced by a careful scrutiny of the requirements submitted by various countries. In fact, however, this general world position is not our main immediate concern. Recent events in North America have gravely affected the ability of both the Canadian and the United States authorities to move wheat for export. This is partly the result of the decontrol of transport and partly the result of the series of maritime strikes in the United States. In the last few days the stoppage of the soft coal industry in the United States has added a further and most serious complication. It is this transport position which will govern the flow of cereals supplies to this country over this winter rather than any question of the amount of cereals potentially available in 1249 North America. These transport difficulties have already become sufficiently serious to deplete our stocks to a level very much below that of this time last year. It is for these reasons that I must warn the House that there is at present no possibility either of de-rationing bread or of diverting supplies to Germany or anywhere else. On the contrary we shall have to take—and are taking—the most vigorous measures to keep our own stocks up to the minimum level at which we can be sure of meeting the present ration.
§ Mr. BlackburnWill my right hon Friend take all possible steps, both through the B.B.C. and by a special leaflet if necessary, to inform the British housewife that the immediate cause of world food shortages is industrial chaos under the unplanned economic policy of America?
§ Mr. BoothbyWill the right hon. Gentleman give the House an assurance that he is taking every possible step in the interests of British agriculture to obtain a supply of coarse grain from South America?
§ Mr. StracheyYes, Sir, and we are at last obtaining a certain flow from the Argentine. The difficulty has been export licences.
§ Mr. BowlesIn view of the headlines in the "Sunday Express" last Sunday week, will my right hon. Friend take this opportunity to administer a severe rebuke?
Mr. BaldwinCan the Minister state whether or not the exportable surplus is in the hands of the Emergency Council for allocation?
§ Mr. StracheyNo, Sir. The figure I have given is the world figure of the exportable surplus which is in the hands of the United States, the Argentine, Australia, Canada, and the other principal exporters. It is not in the hands of the International Emergency Food Council.
§ Mr. Wilson HarrisCould the Minister say how the 25 million tons he has mentioned compares with the figure for the previous year?
§ Mr. StracheyThe gap is a little less, but only a little.
Mr. VaneCan the Minister say whether this figure of 25 million tons includes any amount from the Russian occupied zone of Germany, and other countries in Eastern Europe?
§ Mr. StracheyOne hundred thousand tons is coming from the Russian zone into Western Germany at the moment, but that is the only case.
§ Mr. SpeakerI have no doubt that we could continue to discuss this matter until the end of Question time.