HC Deb 03 March 1919 vol 113 cc47-8W
Colonel WEDGWOOD

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that, owing to Government action, the country is paying £2 to £3 per quarter more for wheat than it need; and whether this is due to lack of ships or to the desire to keep up agricultural prices?

Mr. McCURDY

I have been asked to reply. The Food Controller's attention, has been called to this statement, which is based on a misapprehension of fact and is incorrect. Where tonnage and finance can be made available, every possible effort is being made to secure cheap supplies of grain. I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the statement recently made on behalf of the Government on this subject in the House of Lords.

Mr. STEVENS

asked the Prime Minister whether he will have recourse to measures for increasing the stocks of wheat held in this country by taking steps to offer storage room rent free, for both home-grown and imported wheat, in stores into which ocean steamers could be directly discharged, and so that the wheat could be sold ex-store upon c.i.f. terms, i.e.,., to carry out the experiment recommended by the Royal Commission on Supply of Food and Raw Material in Time of War, 1905, as indicated in paragraphs 261 and 262 of the main Report, and described in detail on pages 81 to 86 of the Report?

Mr. McCURDY

I have been asked to reply. The Food Controller does not propose, for the present, to take any action in this direction.

Captain Viscount WOLMER

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether it is a fact that during January the Wheat Executive shipped approximately 500,000 tons of wheat to Europe and that it still holds over 3,000,000 tons of wheat abroad; and what steps will be taken by the Govern- ment to enable British farmers to realise the price for their wheat which has been guaranteed to them but at which they are unable to sell?

Sir ARTHUR BOSCAWEN

The Board are informed that the quantity of wheat shipped on account of the Wheat Executive during January last is correctly stated in the question, but that the quantity of wheat still held abroad is less than 2,500,000 tons. The Board are aware that in some cases farmers have found difficulty in finding a market for their wheat at the maximum price, but where such cases have been reported steps have been taken by the Wheat Commission to endeavour to remove the difficulty. If my hon. Friend will inform me of any cases of the kind within his knowledge, I shall be glad to look into them.