HC Deb 29 November 1955 vol 546 cc2103-4
20. Mr. G. Brown

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that dried grass is currently being imported into this country from Canada; and whether he will state the quantity and expenditure in dollars estimated as likely to be incurred on this account.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

No, Sir. I can trace no record of any recent imports of dried grass from Canada, nor have I any record of an import licence having been issued. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

Mr. Brown

Is not this extraordinary? I wonder whether the right hon. Gentleman will check the answer again? There is now a ship in Aberdeen from which dried grass is being sold for £39 10s. a ton. At the same time Mark Lane was yesterday quoting forward deliveries of dried grass from Canada at £36 12s. a ton. As this is using 100 dollars a ton to replace a home product—a product which used to be grown here but the growing of which is now dying away—does not the right hon. Gentleman think he ought to be active about this?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I will certainly be active about it and will follow up the information the right hon. Gentleman has given me. My information is that dried grass is not being imported, and the only comparable import which I can trace is that of alfalfa hay, which was a gift for a racehorse.

Mr. T. Williams

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman's first statement was correct—that dried grass cannot be imported without an import licence?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I think I said "from Canada."

Mr. Brown

In view of the President's remarks about a gift for a racehorse, may I ask whether he is aware that the shipload in Aberdeen to which I referred is being offered for sale at £39 10s. a ton and that the kind of quibble which he made does not help us in the misuse of our dollars?

Mr. Thorneycroft

There is no need for the right hon. Gentleman to get too indignant. I was indicating that my information related to something separate from that which the right hon. Gentleman has given me, and I have offered to look into the information which he put before the House.