§ Mr. Haleasked the Minister of Food the amount of the total wheat crop in the Dominion of Canada in the years 1944 and 1945, and what is the estimated crop 100W for the year 1946; and whether the Dominion is in a position to negotiate for any additional wheat imports to this country.
§ Sir B. SmithAs regards the first part of the Question, the total wheat crop harvested in Canada in 1944 was 417 million bushels; the latest official estimate of the crop harvested in 1945 is 306 million bushels, and on the basis of the target acreage and assuming average yields the crop to be harvested in 1946 should be about 384 million bushels. As regards the second part of the Question, Canada has already arranged to make available during the next few months for the United Kingdom and other countries for which we have procurement responsibilities the maximum quantity of wheat that it is practicable for her to move to the seaboard and export to these destination having regard to the legitimate requirements of other importing countries.
§ Dr. Littleasked the Minister of Food when, through the lessening of the quota of cereals to brewers and distillers, he will be in a position to increase the supply of food and feeding stuffs urgently required by the nation.
§ Sir B. SmithAs my hon. Friend stated in the reply given to the hon. Member for West Ealing (Mr. J. Hudson) on nth February, the question raised by the hon. Member is one of those which are under constant review in.connection with the world cereals position. Distillers have this year received sufficient cereals for only about three-sevenths of their prewar annual production, and I have already announced that it is not possible to allocate to them any more cereals from the 1945 crop.