HC Deb 14 December 1938 vol 342 cc2000-1W
Mr. Parker

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the amounts of wheat and raw sugar imported in the first 10 months of this year exceed the average amounts imported in the corresponding period of the three preceding years by no more than 140,000 and 260,000 tons, respectively, costing about £1,100,000 and £2,000,000, and representing roughly 2 per cent. and 10 per cent., respectively, of the combined imports and home production of these commodities on the average of recent years, he will give an assurance that storage has already been carried out in this country of the wheat and sugar, of which the purchase by His Majesty's Government was announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 26th April, in amounts sufficient to ensure that the stocks in this country should be maintained at a level sufficient for the needs of the civil population during the early months of an emergency?

Mr. Cross

My right hon. Friend can certainly give the assurance for which the hon. Member asks.