HC Deb 04 April 1950 vol 473 c138W
Mr. G. Williams

asked the Minister of Food what the million tons of coarse grains from Russia and the 1,600,000 tons from the Argentine consisted of; and over what period these were imported.

Mr. Webb

The one million tons of coarse grains purchased by my Department from Russia, in 1949, consisted of 500,000 tons of barley, 400,000 tons of maize and 100,000 tons of oats. The contract provides for shipment to be completed between 1st October, 1949, and 30th June, 1950. Of the total of some 1,600,000 tons of coarse grains purchased from Argentina in 1948 and 1949, about 1,500,000 tons consisted of maize, and about 100,000 tons of barley. Approximately 1,000,000 tons of the maize and all the barley were shipped between April and December, 1948; shipment of the remaining quantity of maize is due to be completed by June, 1950.