§ 27. Mr. SHORTasked the Minister of-Agriculture the total amount of subsidy granted to the sugar beet industry since its inception?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Guinness)The total amount of subsidy paid to the beet sugar industry since the passing of the British Sugar (Subsidy) Act, 1925, is £2,681,946.
§ 28. Mr. SHORTasked the Minister of Agriculture the total number of acres of land under beet cultivation during 1926 as compared with 1925?
§ Mr. GUINNESSThe acreage returned as being under sugar beet in England and Wales this year was 125,814 acres, as compared with 54,750 acres in 1925.
§ 32. Mr. DEANasked the Minister of Agriculture, if, in view of the fact that there are some districts most suitable for the growth of sugar beet without a factory within a reasonable distance, he will consider the advisability of the Government either building or giving financial assistance for the erection of such factories?
§ Mr. GUINNESSThe financial assistance to be given to the sugar beet industry has been defined by Parliament in the British Sugar (Subsidy) Act, 1925. It has in certain cases been possible to afford some additional assistance towards the erection of factories by way of guarantees under the Trade Facilities Act on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee set up under the Act, but the money available under that Act is now nearly exhausted.