HC Deb 18 September 1950 vol 478 cc1530-1
16. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

asked the Minister of Food what arrangements he proposes to make to counteract the bad harvest and the consequent loss in home-produced food.

19. Mr. Bossom

asked the Minister of Food if he is making any special provision to obtain food from other countries to make up for the damage that our own crops have sustained due to recent storms.

Mr. Webb

It is too soon yet finally to assess the damage done to crops but we do not expect that the estimates of yields on which our import programme was based will need to be revised to any material extent.

Sir T. Moore

Does the Minister realise that the stockpiling of food is one of the most essential factors in any policy of re-armament?

Mr. Webb

I am not dealing with the stockpiling of food. That is not the original Question.

Mr. Bossom

Will the Minister give an assurance that he will not purchase goods from foreign countries in preference to those from the Empire to make up for what we have lost this year in England?

Mr. Webb

When we know the exact results of loss in harvest we shall decide on the necessary adjustments to our import programme.

Mr. Bossom

But will the Minister give an assurance that he will not get the food from foreign countries but from the Empire or other friendly countries?