HC Deb 29 March 1939 vol 345 cc2071-2W
Viscountess Astor

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the average world price per cwt. for wheat, in each of the last two years for which figures are available; what was the average market price per cwt. for British wheat during the same period; what payment per cwt. of British wheat was made by the Exchequer during this period; and what was the total

— 1936–37* 1937–38*
s. d. s. d.
Average declared value of imports of wheat into United Kingdom. 9 7 per cwt. 9 5 per cwt.
Ascertained average price of British wheat for the purposes of the Wheat Act, 1932. 8 10 per cwt. 8 4 per cwt.
Deficiency Payment under the Wheat Act, 1932 1 1½ per cwt. 1 7 per cwt.
Total Deficiency Payments £1,338,630 £1,934,681
* Year August to July.

Mr. W. R. Duckworth

asked the Minister of Agriculture what success has attended the efforts of the Herring Industry Board to deal directly with the importing and exporting organisations of Germany and Russia, respectively; and whether he will give the statistical results of such negotiations for the years 1936, 1937 and 1938, respectively?

Sir R. Dorman-Smith

I think that the best indication of the position is afforded by the following figures, compiled by the Herring Industry Board, which show the quantities of cured herring exported to Germany and Russia respectively out of the cure of 1938 and each of the five previous seasons.

of these Exchequer payments during each of these two years?

Sir R. Dorman-Smith

Information is not available upon which to compute an average world price for wheat, but the average declared values of imports into the United Kingdom fairly accurately reflect world prices. As regards the third and fourth parts of the question, I would remind the Noble Lady that the payments made in respect of British wheat are not made by the Exchequer. With these provisos the particulars asked for by the Noble Lady are as follow: