§ Mr. DONOVANasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that uncertainty exists in Ireland as to the price of oats under the Corn Production Act and Food Prices Act, in so far as it relates to any particular weight per bushel; whether in the purchase of oats for War Department purposes by the Irish Oats Advisory Committee the military authorities were correct in stating, at a conference recently held in Dublin, that the minimum price of 38s. 6d. per quarter of 312 lbs. is for oats bushelling 39 lbs., inasmuch as no bushel weight is set forth in the Corn Production Act, 1917?
§ Mr. DUKEI have been asked to reply. There was some uncertainty as to whether grain would be purchased by weight or by measure, and I am informed that the Department of Agriculture have issued a leaflet dealing with the matter: 38s. 6d. per quarter of 312 lbs. is the price at which the War Office have been instructed to buy. A question has arisen as to the effect of these instructions, and will be decided without delay.