1920.] 



Questions ix Pari.ia.ment. 



185 



QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT. 



Home-errown Wheat.— In reply to a question by Captain Terrell, 



the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry stated the method by 



which it was proposed that the price to be paid for home-grown wheat 



harvested in 1920 should be ascertained. 

 « 



The price to be paid for British wheat of sound milling quality would 

 be announced each month, and would be the average of the c.i.f. cost 

 of all milling wheat imported during the two preceding months, and of 

 the actual and anticipated arrivals in the United Kingdom during the 

 current month, subject to an adjustment in respect of the lower per- 

 centage of flour of equal water content obtainable from home-grown 

 wheat as compared with imported wheat, and subject also to a maximum 

 of 955. a quarter. Home-grown wheat of sound milling quahty would 

 be defined as wheat of fair average quality for the season fit for milling 

 into flour for human consumption. 



In reply to the specific inquiries in the question, the term " similar 

 or comparable quality " refers to the percentage of flour obtainable, 

 and the prices would be adjusted accordingly. Consequently, in view 

 of the fact that British wheat yields on the average a somewhat lower 

 percentage of flour of equal water content than imported wheat, the 

 maximum price of 955. would be payable for British wheat so long as 

 the average price of imported wheat was in excess of that figure. 

 (19th April, 1920.) 



Wheat Prices. — In reply to a question b}^ Mr. H. Gritten, the 

 Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry stated that the average c.i.f. 

 cost of all wheat imported during the financial 3^ear ended 31st March 

 last was 94s. per 480 lb. The estimated average c.i.f. cost for the 

 current month [i.e. April) is 1045. per qr. of 480 lb. The estimate 

 for the bread subsidy for the current financial year recently submitted 

 was ;^45,ooo,ooo. So long as the bread subsidy continues it was 

 impossible to decontrol wheat, but it had already been announced* 

 that higher prices would be paid to farmers for home-grown wheat 

 harvested in 1920 and 1921. (22nd April, 1920.) 



Spring: Wheat. — In reply to a question by Capt. Terrell, the Parlia- 

 mentary' Secretary to the Ministry stated that no definite information 

 was available in regard to the area sown with spring wheat, but from 

 reports received the total area under wheat this year was considerably 

 less than in 191 9 and 1918, (isth April, 1920.) 



Ag-ricultural Bill. — In reply to a question by Captain Terrell, the 

 Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministr}- stated that he was aware 

 that the agricultural industry was anxiously awaiting the introduction 

 of the Agricultural Bill, and the Ministry had received a number of 

 resolutions on the subject from local branches of the National Farmers' 

 Union and other bodies. He hoped, however, to be in a position to 

 introduce the Bill at an earh' date. The reasons for the delay were the 

 necessary reconsideration of certain aspects of some of the Clauses 

 of what was a somewhat complicated and technical Bill. (22nd April, 

 1920.) 



* See tills JournaL March, i')20, p. II53. 



