§ 30. Mr. WALTER REA (for Mr. GRAHAM WHITE)asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the area under wheat in Great Britain prior to the enactment of the wheat quota; and what is the area sown to wheat this year?
§ Major ELLIOTThe area returned as under wheat in Great Britain on 4th June, 1931, was 1,246,725 acres, and in 1932, 1,340,016 acres. It has been estimated that at the end of last December the area sown to wheat in England and Wales was about 17 per cent, greater than at the end of 1931, while, according to information in the possession of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland, it is probable that there will be an increase of about 18,000 acres—about 34 per cent.—in the total area under wheat in Scotland this year as compared with last.
§ Sir H. CROFTDoes my right hon. and gallant Friend attribute this increase of acreage largely to the depression in the barley-growing side of agriculture, and is he not of opinion that that is going to be intensified in the near future?
§ Major ELLIOTIt is attributable rather to the operation of the quota.
§ Major ELLIOTUp to the end of last December.
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSOn the basis of the normal yield, does my right hon. and gallant Friend anticipate that this will carry the crop beyond the 27,000,000 cwts., which is the maximum provided?
§ Major ELLIOTI think the wheat area has to increase by 35 per cent, over the 1932 acreage before the limit of 6,000,000 qrs. can be reached.