§ Sir J. Lucasasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to the large imports of soy a beans by Germany and to the fact that the United States are now growing these beans extensively owing to their nutrient value and general utility; and whether he will consult the authorities of those parts of the Empire that are climatically suited for their cultivation so as to ensure a regular and sufficient supply of these beans for use in this country?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI have no information to suggest that recent imports of soya beans into Germany have been large. Supplies of other oilseeds produced within the Empire are abundant, and there would, therefore, appear to be no pressing need to encourage the production of soya beans at the present time, and such production would be subject to the shipping conditions applicable to other oilseeds already grown. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies that experiments in producing soya beans in the Colonial Empire have not so far proved profitable.