§ 12. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether full use is being made of the three factories near Bielefeld in Germany for the supply of artificial manures and fertilisers; and whether they are capable of producing all of these products that are required for the whole of the British zone, in order that the greatest agricultural crops can be secured.
Mr. McNeilThese factories are authorised to operate at maximum capacity, but shortages of coal, power, transport and repair facilities have restricted output. In full production, however, they would provide only 2 to 3 per cent. of the British zone's total requirements of super phosphate fertilisers.
§ Mr. FreemanIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that if these artificial manures and fertilisers were made available they could provide much more of their own food, and probably as much as a 50 per cent. increase in this year's crop of cereals and potatoes?
Mr. McNeilI am sure my hon. Friend is also aware that there is not a country in Eastern Europe whose needs for super phosphate fertilisers have been satisfied.