§ Captain BOWYERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether the Government have made contracts for forward deliveries of wheat during the month of May and succeeding months; what are the f.o.b. and c.i.f. prices for such deliveries; and whether these prices tend to increase the estimate for the bread subsidy for the current financial year?
§ Mr. McCURDYI have been asked to reply. The Royal Commission on Wheat Supplies, on behalf of the Government, are constantly negotiating for supplies of wheat from the various exporting countries. The hon. and gallant Member will appreciate that it would be most inadvisable for the Ministry of Food to make public the detailed information for which he asks. With regard to the last part of the question, it is not possible to predict with any degree of certainty the precise effect that the quantities purchased and the prices paid for wheat to arrive in any particular month or months will have on the amount of the Bread Subsidy for the current financial year, which will not close until 31st March, 1921.