HC Deb 16 June 1952 vol 502 cc764-5
21. Mr. Stokes

asked the Minister of Food what steps he proposes to take to ensure that Australia's vital exports of food to this country are both maintained and expanded.

Major Lloyd George

The maintenance and expansion of Australia's food exports to this country depend upon an increase in production in Australia which has assured markets here. I am in constant contact with the Australian authorities and particularly welcome, therefore, the programme of agricultural expansion recently announced by Mr. Menzies.

Mr. Stokes

That is all very well, but is not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that, given proper opportunities, Australia is capable of supplying at least 100 million bushels more wheat a year, and, whatever may be the programme in the Minister's mind, has he not contemplated the fact that they cannot do it unless the capital equipment programme for Australia is arranged the right way? At the present moment, is not Australia being cut off from capital equipment, and, therefore, their food production will not increase?

Major Lloyd George

I am not disagreeing with the right hon. Gentleman on that, but he will also agree that the immediate trouble at the moment is due to causes entirely out of our control and which have nothing to do with capital equipment—the drought and so forth— but the programme which was laid down for five years at the conference of Ministers at Canberra last April is one which aims at a very much bigger expansion of many agricultural products.

Mr. Stokes

Surely, the right hon. and gallant Gentleman is not rightly informed? The fact is that the shipment of capital equipment to Australia is next to impossible. Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware of the fact that, although the drought which has occurred is serious, on the long-term view, what is required is that there shall be increasing shipments of capital equipment to Australia?

Major Lloyd George

The right hon. Gentleman was so eager to put his next question that he has not understood what I said. I said that I agreed with the right hon. Gentleman about that, and I cannot say more than that.

Mr. Stokes

What is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman going to do?

Major Lloyd George

The right hon. Gentleman will appreciate that, after all, last April the people in the Government of Australia laid down this programme, which was mentioned by the Australian Prime Minister, and from there we go.

Sir W. Smithers

Does my right hon. and gallant Friend realise that the big principle behind all these questions is that, if he restricts consumption, he will restrict production, and, therefore, will he not take off all these controls tomorrow morning?