HL Deb 27 April 1954 vol 187 cc3-4

2.38 p.m.

LORD BARNBY

My Lords, I beg to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government if they will state (a) the amount of wheat and the value thereof bought by the United Kingdom from Canada in 1952 and 1953; (b) the quantity bought in the first quarter of 1954 and/or contracted for, for the balance of 1954 and at what price.]

VISCOUNT WOOLTON

My Lords, the amount of wheat imported into the United Kingdom from Canada in the calendar year 1952 was 2,768,018 tons, to the value of £85,972,000. The corresponding figures for the calendar year 1953 are 2,790,542 tons and £84,292,000. The quantity imported in the first quarter of this year was 325,233 tons, to the value of £9,564,000, as compared with 445,909 tons, to the value of £13,273,000, in the first quarter of 1953. The importation of wheat is now in the hands of private importers, and I cannot say what contracts they may have made for the rest of 1954.

LORD BARNBY

My Lords, I should like to thank the noble Viscount for that reply. It contained a number of figures which it is difficult to keep in mind, but it suffices to show that a substantial value of wheat was imported from Canada into the United Kingdom. In view of the regulation of prices through the operation of the Government-controlled Wheat Board in Canada, does it not mean that Canada is charging prices to overseas customers, including the United Kingdom, above the realistic price, having regard to the excess of the 1953 crop over the 1952 crop? Does this not operate as a high protection to Canadian wheat growers?

VISCOUNT WOOLTON

My Lords, the selling price of Canadian wheat is a matter for the Canadian Wheat Board, and it is one on which I should not like to make any observations.

EARL JOWITT

My Lords, may I suggest to the noble Lord who asked the Question, and to the noble Viscount who answered, that it would be more convenient, when we have Questions involving a great many figures, to have them in writing first, so that we can see what they are, and can then discuss afterwards what conclusions may be drawn from them? It is difficult to follow a large number of figures when they are read out as the noble Viscount read them out.

VISCOUNT WOOLTON

My Lords, I did my best.

EARL JOWITT

My Lords, I am not complaining; I am only saying that it is difficult to follow the figures.

VISCOUNT WOOLTON

I entirely agree.