Mr. W. F. MITCHELLasked the Comptroller of the Household, as representing the Minister of Agriculture, whether his attention has been called to the vast increase in the imports of butter into this country as compared with pre-War imports; whether this is indicative of any decrease in the home output; and what is the consumption of butter per head of the population now and in 1914?
§ Sir H. BARNSTONMy right hon. Friend is aware that imports of butter into the United Kingdom are considerably higher than before the War. My right hon. Friend regrets, however, that he is not in possession of sufficient reliable information to enable him to say if home production has decreased, or to compare the per head consumption today with that before the War.