§ 2.36 p.m.
§ LORD WALSTONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the tonnages of—
- (a) wheat,
- (b) other cereals, including maize,
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD (LORD ST. OSWALD)My Lords, in the four months July to October this year 1,275,000 tons of wheat and 1,929,000 tons of other grains and cereal feeding stuffs were imported into the United Kingdom. The comparable figures for the same period last year were 1,255,000 and 1,421,000 tons respectively.
§ LORD WALSTONMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that Answer, may I ask him whether, in view of the considerable increase in other grains during the month—a, matter of half a tons out of 1.4: in other words, an increase of about 30 per cent.—and in view of the heavy harvest of coarse grains in this country and in Europe, he does not think it would be advisable to restrict imports of coarse grains at the present time in 3 order to prevent the deficiency payments from becoming entirely out of hand?
LORD ST. OSWALDMy Lords, as the noble Lord knows, the restriction of imports is, in fact, contrary to the Government's present policy and to our international commitments, and in fact, of course, contrary to the policy of other Governments in this country for the last 125 years. So, naturally, we are reluctant to do anything of that nature.
§ LORD WALSTONMy Lords, would not the noble Lord agree that a matter of some eighteen months ago it became necessary for the Government, whether by voluntary agreement or by other means, at any rate to restrict imports of grain purely in order to ensure that the home production was entirely taken up and that the cost to the taxpayer did not become excessive? Would it not be advisable for the Government to learn from their past experience and to act in good time now, before the matter gets entirely out of hand?
LORD ST. OSWALDMy Lords, as the noble Lord himself suggested, the action at that time was voluntary action; and, of course, we are hoping that the compounders will take the situation into account and will now restrict their forward buying of foreign grains in order to be able to take up the large harvest of this past season.
§ LORD WALSTONMy Lords, just as with games which are all voluntary at certain public schools, there are degrees of voluntariness in some of these matters. Will the noble Lord perhaps use his best endeavours to see that this voluntary action in fact takes place sooner rather than later?
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, should not the Treasury be doing their best to have a right precision on this? Why should they conduct their business in such a way that they greatly increase their own payments?
LORD ST. OSWALDMy Lords, I have in fact referred to that earlier: it 4 has not been the policy of this Government or of previous Governments, of some of which the noble Viscount has been a member, to restrict food imports unless it becomes absolutely necessary; and we are under that system to-day.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHSo far as I can remember, we have never in previous years had in this period imports of this comparability in regard to the grains which have been quoted this afternoon; yet we have a large harvest of our own which we could use much more cheaply on behalf of the community.
LORD ST. OSWALDThe facts that the noble Viscount mentions are perfectly accurate, but whether his deductions need be as gloomy as they appear to be, I should not like to say. We are naturally keeping a close eye on it and we hope, as I said earlier, that by voluntary restriction on the part of those who buy grain and feedingstuffs the position will improve.
§ LORD WISEMy Lords, could the noble Lord break down these figures of coarse grain into figures for the countries from which they have come?
LORD ST. OSWALDNo, I am afraid that, without notice, I cannot do that. Naturally, I will let the noble Lord know; but I do not think I can give them to him at this moment, except by sorting them out from the rather elaborate lists and tables that I have with me. What he will have noticed, I think, is that the figures I have given of imports show 20,000 tons up on wheat and 508,000 tons up on grain. That is really what I think his noble friend was directing attention to. I assure him that we are aware of it.
LORD ST. OSWALDMy Lords, I should prefer the noble Lord to put down a Question, either for written or oral Answer, and I will see to it that that is done.
§ EARL HOWEMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether it is not a fact that a large quantity of grain is being imported into this country in ships which were constructed originally as tankers and are no longer used for that purpose?
LORD ST. OSWALDI am afraid I was not aware of that, but, if my noble friend wishes, I will naturally look into it. It does not seem to me to be very closely concerned with the substantive Question.
THE DUKE OF ATHOLLMy Lords, would the noble Lord tell us whether the imports of grain per capita of population are higher now than, for instance, at the end of the last century?
LORD ST. OSWALDI am defeated both physically and mentally by that question. I cannot answer my noble friend.