HC Deb 04 May 1948 vol 450 cc121-2W
94. Mr. Osborne

asked the Minister of Food if the combined volume of imported food and feedingstuffs for 1947 of 75 per cent. of the volume in 1938, as shown in Table VII, on page 12 of Command Paper 7344, was exactly 75 per cent. for each grouping; and what were the chief items and quantities in each group for the two years.

Dr. Summerskill

The answer to the first part of the Question is, "No." Measured by the method of table VII imported food in 1947 was 81 per cent. by volume of 1938 imported feedingstuffs 23 per cent. Feedingstuffs for this purpose have been taken as maize, barley, oats, wheat offals and oilcake. As the table showing the chief items and quantities in each group for the two years is rather long, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the table:

CHIEF ITEMS IN RETAINED IMPORTS INTO UNITED KINGDOM OF FOOD AND FEEDING-STUFFS IN THE YEARS 1938 AND 1947.
1938. 1947.
Thousand tons. Thousand tons.

Food, etc. (a)

Wheat 5,020 4,195
Flour 383 894
Pulses 143 62
Oilseeds and Nuts 1,629 956
All oils and fats (Vegetable, animal and marine) refined and unrefined 499 496
Sugar, as imported 2,405 1,877
Meat (all types) 1,540 1,396
Fish (all types) 179 302
Dairy produce—
Butter 472 214
Cheese 146 191
Condensed Milk 82 71
Dried Milk, unsweetened 18 51
Eggs (shell and processed) 230 124
Potatoes 145 133
Fresh fruit and vegetables (except potatoes) 1,913 1,340
Dried Fruit 183 208
Canned Fruit 216 90
Tea 206 167
Coffee 14 43
Cocoa 128 105
Feedingstuffs.
Maize 2,751 481
Barley 994 113
Oats 79 106
Wheat Offals 599 74
Oilcake 656 316

(a) These quantities include certain items for non-food use, e.g. technical oils, which it is not possible to distinguish.