§ 106. Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Food the average price paid for home grown barley for each of the last seven years and for imported barley of comparable quality.
Dr. HillThe types and qualities of home-grown barleys vary so widely that no direct comparison with imported barley is possible. The best comparison available is between the average sale price of home-grown barley in certain selected towns in England and Wales, as shown by the Corn Returns, and the average price paid by the Ministry for imported barley in the years in question. The following are the figures:
Calendar Year Average sale prices of home-grown barley as shown by Corn Returns (England & Wales only) Average price c.i.f. (including duty payable) of imported barley purchased by the Ministry of Food Per cwt. Per cwt. s. d. s. d. 1947 24 9 29 0 1948 27 7 34 6 1949 26 4 22 5 1950 28 5 23 3 1951 42 5 35 0 1952 32 7 33 5 1953 30 5 32 6* * This figure does not include the majority of barley imports since 1st May, 1953, which have been brought in by private importers.