§ 43. Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEasked the Minister of Agriculture how far he has been able to make use of the grant allotted from the Empire Marketing Board for the marketing of British cereals to consider the special features of barley marketing in the interests of British producers?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Guinness)No grant has been expressly made to my Department in regard to the marketing of British cereals, but the work now being undertaken by the Ministry, with the aid of the general grant of £40,000 a year, includes an investigation into the marketing of cereal crops. A report, embodying the general results of this investigation, will, I hope, be issued in the autumn. Due attention will be given in the report to the marketing of home-grown barley.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEMay I ask whether attention has been called to the difficulties of barley growers?
§ Mr. GUINNESSI have drawn the attention of those who are compiling this information to my hon. and gallant Friend's question, and I am sure that this aspect of the matter is not being neglected.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGECan the right hon. Gentleman say when he expects to get a report?
§ Mr. GUINNESSI am afraid I cannot give any approximate date without notice.
§ Mr. WALLHEADWithout decrying in any way the attempt to establish Empire marketing on a sound basis, will the right hon. Gentleman say whether it would not be as well to pay as much attention to British agriculture as to agriculture in the Dominions?
§ Mr. GUINNESSBritish agriculture is now getting a grant from the Empire Marketing Board, which is being devoted to an examination of, and a report upon, the conditions of marketing. We believe it is very necessary, if the farmer is to get the profits which now escape, that he should have the opportunity of organising marketing on an economic basis.
§ Mr. MONTAGUEDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think that British fruit can be sold as cheap as Empire fruit is at railway stations?