asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the need for promoting exports and in order that markets should not be captured by foreign competitors, he will allow the export of beer to be revived.

On 16th April, 1946, my predecessor made a statement in this House in which he said that because of the serious food situation it had been decided to prohibit, with certain exceptions, the export of manufactured foods and drinks containing scarce ingredients, such as sugar, fats and cereals.

Our food situation remains difficult but, as I endeavoured to explain when I had the honour to address the Cornmittee of Supply on 1st July last, our difficulties are changing in character. Apart from the difficulty of finding the actual food to buy we must now seek to maximise in every possible way the amount of foreign currency at our disposal with which to buy it. It is increasingly to this "double problem," as I venture to call it, that we must address ourselves. Therefore, everything which increases our exports is of direct assistance to us in obtaining essential food imports. In these circumstances His Majesty's Government have decided to allow the export of certain carefully selected manufactured foods—such as beer, biscuits and chocolates—which are of very high money value in relation to the quantities of foodstuffs which they contain.

We shall aim at selling—as much as possible in hard currency areas—£10 million worth of these specialities a year. In order to do this we shall have to use about one half of one per cent. of our total supplies of sugar and about ·4; of one per cent. of our supplies of fats, and a still smaller percentage of our cereals. But with the foreign currency which we hope to receive from these exports we should be able to buy, when they are available, nearly half a million tons of additional feedingstuffs, for example.

I feel sure that the House will agree that in these circumstances this, at first sight paradoxical decision, is correct. I therefore appeal confidently to the Members on all sides of the House to help to explain it. What it amounts to is that we are going to use our processing and manufacturing facilities and skill, plus a very little of our sugar, fats and cereals in order to earn foreign currency which will pay for much bigger quantities of basic foods. I ask our friends overseas to realise this when they see small supplies of foods from Britain, such as high-quality biscuits, jams, etc., in their shops and not to slacken their efforts—efforts which we greatly appreciate—to sell us the maximum quantities of meat, dairy produce and the like—which we need.

The full details of this policy, for example, the foods to which it will apply and the administrative arrangements will be announced after consultations with the food industries concerned, by my Department at an early date.

While acknowledging with thanks the right hon. Gentleman's reply, which seems to be the longest answer I have ever had to a Question, may I ask when this new arrangement is to come into effect, and when exports will be permitted?

As soon as we can make administrative arrangements.

Will my right hon. Friend make sure that we sell these exports at the highest possible prices?

Yes, Sir.

We were interested in the right hon. Gentleman's long answer, which seems to be a maximising of "Yes, Sir," but, in view of its importance, could he not have told us this last week in the Food Debate?

The matter has only just been decided, and administrative details are not yet arranged.

Does my right hon. Friend realise the well-known fact that good food is destroyed in all the beer that is produced, and that there cannot be any compensation in the form of dollars for the deliberate destruction of food in order to secure this thing, which is not necessary?

My hon. Friend can, at any rate, be assured that this particular beer will be drunk outside this country.

The right hon. Gentleman referred to this as a "double problem," and is he not aware that as he has failed in almost every single problem with which he has dealt he will certainly be unable to deal with a double one?

While almost all the beer might be used outside the United Kingdom, is it not a fact that good food materials which will be wasted by this policy, are produced in this country?

Some of the materials are, and some are not. Barley is, and sugar is not.

But we need the sugar.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that drinking beer is a very valuable aid to good work at harvest time, and will he ensure that no austerity is imposed at harvest time?

Certainly.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is nothing very new in this policy, that Lord Woolton did this when we were fighting for our life in 1942, and that, therefore, it is quite sensible to do it now?