§ 41. Mr. ADAMSONasked the Mininster of Agriculture the total amount of sugar-beet produced, and the amount of subsidy paid for sugar-beet, in the last financial year?
§ Mr. ELLIOTThe total amount of sugar-beet produced in Great Britain during the last financial year was 3,403,989 tons. Making allowance for certain payments and liabilities in respect of the preceding and in the subsequent financial year, the total amount of subsidy paid and to be paid on sugar production during the financial year 1935–36 is approximately £22,770,000.
§ Mr. THURTLEIs the Minister aware that the foreign capitalists are very grateful for the assistance they have received from the British taxpayer in this matter?
§ Mr. ELLIOTThe home agricultural workers are still more grateful.
Viscountess ASTORIs the Minister quite certain that the agricultural workers throughout the country are grateful for this, and that the country is going to allow him to go on giving a subsidy, when he has a report of a committee saying that it can never be financially sound?
§ Mr. ELLIOTThe matter has been thrashed out and decided by this House, and I do not propose to ask the House to reopen its decision.