§ 37. Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEasked the Minister of Agriculture what is the area in this country now under sugar beet, or contracted for in the near future; and to what extent this acreage meets the demand of the factories already working or likely to be working before the end of this year?
Mr. GUINNESSI am informed by the factory companies that the approximate acreage actually under contract, or likely to be contracted, for the growth of sugar beet in the near future is 128,500 acres. The estimated acreage required to enable the 15 factories already built, or in course of erection this year, to work at full capacity is approximately 150,000 acres. I would add that there are still several weeks before the contracting season ends, and at least two new factory schemes are still under consideration, in respect of which separate acreage arrangements would be made.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it incumbent on the Ministry to take any steps to increase the area of beet for these factories?
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERHas the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been drawn to a statement in the trade papers that the Government subsidy will enable the companies putting up the factories to pay the cost of the whole of their capital expenditure, and will he take steps to get some of these assets for public ownership?
Mr. GUINNESSI do not know what statement the hon. Member may have seen, but he is no doubt aware that the farmers get an extra 10s. over and above what was laid down as the minimum contract price in the Act.
| (a) RECOMMENDATIONS DEFINTITELY ADOPTED. | |
| FIRST INTERIM REPORT. | |
| Recommendations. | Remarks. |
| Paragraph 22. | |
| Credit.—Agree in proposals of Agricultural Credit Committee for long-term credit, and consider farmers combining for joint handling of products should have credit for erection of buildings, plant, &c. | Carried out by Agricultural Credits Act, 1923, and by scheme inaugurated in 1924 for loans to Agricultural Co-operative Societies. |