§ Mr. John Mooreasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will raise at the World Food Conference in November the subject of the dietary habits of the affluent nations;
(2) if he will raise at the World Food Conference in November the subject of the most efficient use of grain as a foodstuff as between grain consumption and grain consumed by livestock;
448W(3) if he will raise at the World Food Conference in November the subject of the allocation of the world's grain supplies as between the developing and the affluent nations.
§ Mr. PeartThe World Food Conference will, I hope, give particular attention to the problems of increasing production and improving distribution and interrlated matters in developing countries. It will consider also the security of world food supplies and issues related to these major questions. There will no doubt be opportunities for the conference to discuss the subjects mentioned by the hon. Member. However, it would be unwise to work on the assumption that dietary habits can easily be changed.
§ Mr. John Mooreasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what are the figures of grain consumption per capita for 1973 and 1963 in the United Kingdom, United States of America, India and China, including grain consumed by livestock;
(2) what are the percentage increases in per capita grain consumption in the past 10 years in the United Kingdom, United States of America, India and China, including grain consumed by livestock.
§ Mr. Peart"Grain" has been taken to include wheat, rye, barley, oats, maize, sorghums and milled rice. The figures for human and livestock consumption and industrial use are as follows:
Estimated grain consumption per capita (kg. per head) Percentage change over 10 years United Kingdom— 1963-64 … … 310 +15 1973-74* … … 360 U.S.A.— 1963-64 … … 710 +20 1973-74* … … 850 India— 1962-63 … … 130 +7 1972-73 … … 140 China— 1962-63 … … 195 +13 1972-73 … … 220 *Provisional.
§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a Green Paper on the policy proposals which he is considering placing 449W before the World Food Conference which is to be held in Rome later this year.
§ Mr. PeartNo. I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement that I made in reply to his Question of 2nd April concerning the policy that the United Kingdom will pursue at this conference.— [Vol. 871, c.324-5.]