§ 37. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Food if, in view of the fact that in the last four years his Department has lost some £78 million on importing and selling feedingstuffs and bread grains, he will now bring to an end this form of governmental trading and allow experienced merchants a free hand to carry on this trade.
Dr. HillThe figure quoted is the total of the subsidy on imported animal feedingstuffs for the last four years. As regards the future, I would refer my hon. Friend to the White Paper presented on 21st January last announcing the Government's decision to bring cereals and feedingstuffs control to an end at the next harvest.
§ Sir W. SmithersBut will the Minister bear in mind the loss incurred in groundnuts, Gambia eggs and sorghum from Queensland, and will he stop at once this waste of public money in national and governmental trading?