asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the total quantity of butter in cold storage and the steps in contemplation to increase the reserve stock of butter to cover the winter months and further, whether he will state if the supplies of margarine and the materials from which margarine is manufactured are running short, and, if so, whether that fact will be taken into account when determining the quantities of butter to be placed in cold storage against winter demands.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Butter and Margarine Stocks.
The quantity of butter in cold store under a scheme to reserve stocks for winter use was 17,500 cwt. on the 30th June, 1941, the latest date for which figures are available. The storage of this butter commenced on 15th June and the quantity will be augmented weekly until a sufficient amount to meet winter requirements is in store.
There is, I understand, a possibility of supplies of margarine and the materials from which margarine is made running short. This possibility is taken into account when considering the quantity of butter to be stored for winter use.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the quantity of (a) creamery butter, and (b) other butter exported during each of the last ten weeks, the corresponding exports for each of the years 1940 and 1939 and the quantity of butter in cold storage at July 1st in each of the years 1939, 1940 and 1941.
Particulars of weekly exports of butter are not available, but returns are published by my Department twice monthly. I am giving the Deputy the latest information in the form of a tabular statement which will be circulated with the Official Reports.
Following is the tabular statement referred to:—
|
Year |
Exports during Ten Weeks Ended 30th June |
Quantities in Public Cold Stores on 30th June |
||
|
Creamery Butter |
Other Butter |
Creamery Butter |
Other Butter |
|
|
cwt. |
cwt. |
cwt. |
cwt. |
|
|
1939 |
88,726 |
9,695 |
14,392 |
1,440 |
|
1940 |
117,860 |
4,119 |
2,981 |
3,262 |
|
1941 |
59,934 |
8,933 |
17,669 |
766 |