Mr. N. Smithasked the Minister of Agriculture whether in view of the difficulty of paying for essential imports of raw materials, he is taking steps to augment the production of home-grown food; and to what extent it is estimated that our import of foodstuffs in 1946 will be reduced.
Mr. WilliamsYes, Sir. Farmers have already been asked to maintain the maximum production of food next year, and where necessary directions will be served upon them to grow the most essential crops, viz: potatoes and sugar beet. The level of imports of foodstuffs in 1946 will depend only in part upon the volume of home production, and I am unable to make the estimate for which my hon. Friend asks.