§ 27. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Minister of Food whether he will publish in the Official Report full details of the programme for the sale of British barley, of which he has already notified grain traders.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI am placing in the Library copies of the two documents to which the hon. and gallant Member refers.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIn making these arrangements, has the right hon. and gallant Gentleman taken into account the ominous fact that during the first 10 months of this year we have spent no less than 37 million dollars in importing Canadian wheat, which will make it very much more difficult for the right hon. and gallant Gentleman to dispose of the vast stock of British barley that he now holds.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThe hon. and gallant Gentleman said "wheat," but I suppose he meant barley.
§ Mr. NabarroThe hon. and gallant Gentleman does not know the difference.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThe fact of the matter is that many people were under the impression that we might be caught with short supplies on decontrol, and that view was expressed in this House. Therefore, the stocks that are held today are considerably less than many people thought we ought to have.
§ Mr. StokesWill the Minister say whether his statement makes clear the amount of this barley that goes for the distillation of whisky?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeNo, Sir.
§ Mr. StokesWhy not?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeMy business is to sell barley. All I do is to give the figures which are available every month.
§ Mr. CrouchWill not the buying of this cheaper imported barley and having abundant supplies have an effect in bringing down the prices of livestock products, because of cheaper feeding stuffs?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeCheaper feeding-stuffs are bound to have that effect.