§ 31. Mr. H. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Agriculture what proportion of the sugar-beet seed used is of British production?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Guinness)Of the 3,426,000 lbs. of beet seed delivered by the 19 factories to the beet growers in 1927, 52,700 lbs. were of British production. Several of the factories report that considerably larger quantities of British seed will be available in 1928.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSCan the right hon. Gentleman say why the factories supply so much foreign seed, when seed can be equally well produced in this country?
§ Mr. GUINNESSMy hon. Friend is no doubt aware that this is a highly-specialised industry, and that America is still importing the greater proportion of its seed from Europe. It is a matter of many years from the first selection of the mother plants before the necessary processes of elimination are sufficiently advanced to put the seed on the market.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSHas the right hon. Gentleman received any information to the effect that the seed supplied from abroad is not of the best quality, and that they reserve the best quality for their own use?
§ Mr. GUINNESSI have not heard that, and I could hardly believe it, because it would not be to the interest of the factories to supply anything but the best.