HC Deb 05 May 1958 vol 587 cc846-7

The following Question stood upon the Order Paper:

47 Mr. FREDERICK WILLEY

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, whether he will make a statement on commercial sales of wheat and flour from Australia following the Trade Agreement, 1957.

Mr. Willey

This Question originally appeared by error as No. 25 on the Order Paper and was attributed to my hon. Friend the Member for Barking (Mr. Hastings).

Mr. John Hare

Imports of Australian wheat and flour in the calendar year 1957 amounted to 639,900 tons and 59,400 tons, respectively, a total of 722,500 tons in terms of wheat equivalent. In the present calendar year imports are likely to be much smaller because the poor Australian harvest at the end of last year has reduced the quantity available for export.

Mr. Willey

Owing to the fact that the returns for last year, quite apart from this year, were below the expectation, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether we have had any consultation with the Australians about the future of the wheat trade?

Mr. Hare

The whole position is be-devilled by the fact that there was a very poor harvest last year.