HC Deb 06 June 1957 vol 571 cc1438-9
5. Mr. Willey

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking in view of the increase of £2,200,000 in the cost of animal feedingstuffs imported from dollar sources for the first four months of this year.

Mr. Amory

The Government are encouraging the replacement of imported feedingstuffs by home production of feed grains and the more efficient production and utilisation of grass; and, so far as imports are required, are enabling them to be obtained from the cheapest source.

Mr. Willey

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is a serious drain on our dollar resources and is a retreat from the endeavours that we have been carrying out to be less reliant on imports? Will the right hon. Gentleman discuss this matter with the trade to see whether we can be more effective in limiting imports of feedingstuffs from dollar sources?

Mr. Amory

We are always in close touch with the trade in these matters. The level of imports during the first four months of this year was due very largely to the temporarily higher freight rates and also to forward buying last autumn, but I think the proof that our policies are working is that the total volume of our home-grown feeding grains has risen steadily over the past three years.