§ Mr. GLANVILLEasked the President of the Board of Trade what was the price of wheat per quarter in this country a week before the outbreak of war in 1914, and what was the average price of wheat for the twelve months immediately following the 31st July, 1914, and for the twelve months immediately following the 31st July, 1915, and for the period following the 31st July, 1916?
§ Mr. PRETYMANThe different grades of wheat are sold at varying prices, and I am sending my hon. Friend a table giving the figures he asks for the different grades usually sold in British markets. I may, however, say that the "Gazette" price of British wheat was:
In Third week of July, 1914. year ending 31st July.1915. Year ending 31stJuly.1916. 1st August— 18th November, 1916. 34s. 48s. 1d. 52s. 6d. 60s. 11d.
§ Mr. BROOKESasked what is the official estimate of land under wheat cultivation, or likely to be under wheat cultivation, during the coming year?
§ Mr. ACLANDIt is too early at present to give an estimate, but I will state how the area sown compares with that sown last year as soon as the reports are available.
§ Mr. CAREWasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware of the fact that a good deal of wheat is now being ground up for feeding pigs, owing to the short supply of 1643W barley in this country; and whether some steps will be taken to prevent this being done?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe feeding of any millable wheat to pigs, or the using of it for any purpose other than human food, is strongly to be deprecated, and steps may have to be taken to adopt such measures as are possible to prevent it.