§ 27. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Food on what grounds he has delayed the sale of his Department's stocks of barley.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeMy Department has been selling barley in substantial quantities since the end of July. Priority has been given to the movement of stocks of imported grain, but the sales of home grown barley will begin shortly.
§ Mr. WilleyCan the right hon. and gallant Gentleman explain why the Government have not provided for the more orderly disposal of the barley held by the Ministry? It seems difficult to reconcile the importation of large quantities of dollar barley when the Minister is facing a very difficult problem in placing the barley which he holds.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThe real difficulty is that it was largely forecast that following the decontrol of barley there would be a scarcity of coarse grains and much higher prices. In fact, exactly the opposite happened. There were lower prices and an abundance. As I explained when I introduced the Supplementary Estimate the other day, there may have been some degree of over insurance, but I do not apologise for that.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs any economy to be effected in the future expenditure of dollars for the importation of Canadian barley, otherwise it will make it more difficult for the Minister to get rid of the very great stock of British home grown barley which he now holds?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI do not anticipate that there will be any difficulty next year at all.