§ 51. Major CHAPPLEasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that 307,844 cwt. of hops have been grown in England this year, and whether the Government intends to take any steps to encourage hop-growers to use their land for the production of wheat, milk, or other food of national importance and need?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe acreage under hops is somewhat reduced this year, and the importation of hops is prohibited. The production of beer is regulated by the Output of Beer (Restriction) Act. Under these circumstances the area under hops next year will only be what is required to provide home demands, and it is probably better that home demands should be thus supplied than that importation of hops should 551 again take place. If further regulation be desirable, it should, I think, take the form rather of regulation of output of beer than of regulation of area under hops.
§ Mr. ASHLEYWill the right hon. Gentleman state whether the Board of Agriculture has recently been issuing special licences for the importation of hops?
§ Mr. ACLANDI am certain the Board of Agriculture has not, and I do not think any Department has.