HC Deb 04 March 1919 vol 113 cc233-5W
Sir NORTON GRIFFITHS

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he is aware that on the 24th January last there were some 27,000,000 bushels of grain stored in various elevators in Canada in London County Council are acting in a manner contrary to Acts of Parliament. The system of the disposal of the sewage of the Metropolitan area is not necessarily wasteful. There are engineering and other difficulties upon which the Board are not in a position to express an opinion, but no economical scheme has yet been evolved for making use of this sewage as a fertiliser. As regards the latter part of the question, the Board have had a statement prepared shewing the analyses of certain sewage sludges, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend.

The following is the analysis:—

excess of the amount at the corresponding date last year; and whether he will consider the advisability of erecting national elevation at suitable ports so that an adequate stock of grain can be accumulated in this country;

(2) If he will state the storage capacity of the grain elevators in the United Kingdom; and whether he has considered the advisability of increasing the storage capacity by the erection of national grain elevators?

Mr. ROBERTS

I have been asked to reply, and will answer this question together with No. 94. The total mill storage capacity in the United Kingdom is

643,800tons, or, say, 24,000,000 bushels, while that of public granaries and warehouses in the United Kingdom is approximately 1,340,700 tons, or, say, 50,000,000 bushels, making a total of 1,984,500 tons, or 74,000,000 bushels.

I am aware that very large quantities of grain are stored in Canadian elevators, but in view of the figures which I have just given, I do not consider that it is necessary at the present time for action to be taken in the direction that the hon. and gallant Member suggests.