§ Rear-Admiral Beamishasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works how many grains silos and how many silos with drying plants are being erected by him for the Ministry of Food and other Ministries, respectively; what is the present situation; what are the prospects of availability for the present harvest; and who will be responsible for the cost of erecting and running them?
§ Mr. HicksThe Ministry of Works has completed 26 grain stores and these are in use. It is also building 15 combined wheat drying and storage plants, for the Ministry of Food. Completion of seven of these latter was promised by September; it is anticipated that five will be completed then, but the remaining two will not be ready until October. The Ministry of Works is responsible for the cost of erecting and maintaining the buildings and the Ministry of Food for operating costs. My Ministry is not erecting buildings of this kind for any other Ministry.
§ Rear-Admiral Beamishasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he will indicate the number of, and the progress of, the supply of grain-storing and grain-drying plants being erected with the approval and support of his Ministry; whether they will be available for the present harvest; and if his Ministry pays for the costs of erecting and running these plants?
§ Mr. MabaneI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply to a similar Question given to-day by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works.