Animal Feeding Stuffs

HC Deb 02 February 1959 vol 599 cc19-20

29. Mr. Willey

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the quantity and tie value of animal feeding stuffs imported during 1958 from dollar sources.

Mr. John Hare

Importation of animal feeding stuffs from dollar sources in 1958 was of the order of 3,070,000 tons to the value of £64 million c.i.f.

Mr. Willey

Is the Minister aware that these figures are greater than those of the previous year, and that this is very disappointing and is a heavy burden on our dollar exchange? Will he do his best to see that we cut down this burden? Is it not a comment on the failure of his agricultural policy?

Mr. Hare

If the hon. Member could control the weather he could perhaps do the job better than I. It is clear that owing to the poor value of grass it has been necessary to use more feeding stuffs in order to produce the animals we need.