Major Lloydasked the Minister of Food what proportion of Scotland's share in bulk-bought food imports is discharged at Scottish ports and what proportion transferred from English ports by rail; and whether he will take steps to see that the latter is reduced to a minimum so that Scotland's prewar activity in dealing with food cargoes as far as possible restored.
§ Mr. Strachey,pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 26th November, 1947; Vol. 444, c. 1991], supplied the following information:
During the last 10 months for which figures are available the proportion of Ministry imports of food and feeding stuffs imported through Scottish ports was nearly 9 per cent., or, if transhipments are included slightly over nine per cent. In the same period the fraction of Ministry imports moved by rail to Scotland from English ports was one-half per cent. The population of Scotland is just over ten per cent. of the population of the United Kingdom, and on this basis Scottish ports have been getting a reasonable share.