§ 46. Rear-Admiral SUETERasked the Prime Minister whether he will consider passing before the House rises emergency legislation to assist early next year the agricultural industry and to prevent the increasing quantities of tomatoes, cucumbers, new potatoes, grapes, cut flowers, rose trees, etc., coming into this country?
§ 50. Viscount WOLMERasked the Prime Minister if he is now able to make 493 a statement of the agricultural policy of the Government and the steps he proposes to take this session to carry it out?
§ 51. Mr. BOOTHBYasked the Prime Minister when he will be in a position to announce the policy of the Government with regard to agriculture?
§ 118. Sir H. CROFTasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the decline in the sales of malting barley during the last two months; and whether it is intended to take any steps to assist barley growers, barley merchants, and others connected with this branch of agriculture?
§ 119. Major CARVERasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the reduction in the amount of beer being drunk as a result of the increased beer duties, he will take steps to ensure that so far as possible the reduced demand for malting barley shall not involve a reduction in the amount and price of that supplied from home sources?
§ 123. Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEasked the Minister of Agriculture if he can now make a statement as to agricultural policy to meet the present winter situation?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI propose to answer these questions by a statement at the end of Questions.
§ At end of Questions—
§ Rear-Admiral SUETERMay I ask if the right hon. Gentleman can now make his promised statement?
§ Sir J. GILMOURDuring the short time it has been in office the Government has given earnest consideration to the agricultural situation. The problems to be solved are many and complex, and time will be required for the full development of a comprehensive policy, the success of which must depend in a great measure on the extent to which agriculturists themselves are prepared to develop the most efficient methods of production and marketing. Recognising, however, the special importance and urgency of the cereal situation, the Government has decided to apply the principle of a quota to home-produced wheat of milling quality and to introduce 494 legislation in time to enable a scheme to become effective for next year's crop. The scheme will be designed to secure for producers a certain market and to enable them to obtain an enhanced price, subject to a statutory maximum, for wheat of milling quality. No contribution from the Exchequer by way of subsidy will be involved, and it is not intended to encourage the extension of the cultivation of wheat to land unsuitable for that purpose. It will be necessary to discuss the details of the scheme with the industries concerned, and I am initiating these discussions forthwith.
The Government fully recognise that there are other aspects of the arable situation which demand attention, and problems relating to other crops, including barley, are under close investigation.
The Government have also decided to introduce a Bill directed to the reduction, through the operation of tariffs, of imports into this country of certain nonessential agricultural and horticultural products which, in many cases, owing to early maturity, anticipate the home crop. I propose to introduce this Bill early next week.
Other aspects of agricultural policy are receiving close attention with due appreciation of their importance. The Government, however, fully alive to the present anxiety of agriculturists and to the desirability of an early interim announcement, put forward these proposals in the hope that they may assist in restoring that confidence in the countryside which is a necessary preliminary to the revival of the industry, to which the policy as a whole will be directed.
§ Sir Douglas NEWTONArising out of the very important statement which has just been made by the Minister of Agriculture, I desire respectfully to ask him if he will possibly be able to make a further announcement in respect of sugar-beet? Farmers, agriculturists, and workers alike will be particularly gratified if the National Government will be prepared to make a statement.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member must put what he has to say in the form of a question.
§ Sir D. NEWTONWill the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to let us know when the Government will be able to make a statement on sugar-beet?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI cannot say. I can add nothing at the moment to my answer.
§ Mr. MAXTONThat is enough for one day.
§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESWhen considering the other interests involved, will the Minister consider the milling interests and the interests of the master bakers?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe answer I have given clearly indicates that I am in consultation with those interests.
§ Sir JOSEPH LAMBI should like to be permitted to say that the statement that the Minister has just made will be received with very great satisfaction and relief not only by agriculturists, but by a great number of industrialists who still believe that agriculture is one of the essential industries of the country.
§ Major MILNERWill any provision be included with regard to minimum wages for those engaged in the industry, or any other safeguards to ensure their getting some benefit from the scheme?
§ Sir J. GILMOURAgricultural wages boards are already in existence.
§ Mr. MAXTONDo I understand from the right hon. Gentleman's statement that the Government have decided to apply a quota to home-grown wheat, and that, having made that decision, they will proceed to discuss with the interests concerned whether it can be done or not?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe announcement was that the Government had decided to introduce legislation in order that it may be available for next year's crop. I shall consult with the interests concerned, and we shall decide how the matter can be solved.
§ Viscount WOLMERIs my right hon. Friend aware that very important contracts in regard to sugar-beet have all to be signed very shortly, and may we have a date to discuss the whole agricultural question generally before the House rises, after the Bill has been introduced?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe latter part of that question obviously should be addressed to the Prime Minister.
§ Mr. HARRISDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that the price of bread has already gone up, and that other foodstuffs have risen, including milk, during the last few weeks, and will he secure that the quota is conditional on no further increase in the price of the necessaries of life?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe hon. Member had better await the Bill.
§ Mr. AMERYWill my right hon. Friend state whether his proposed legislation will cover the importation of tinned and bottled fruits and vegetables, and whether the Government have come to any decision as to the extension of the quota principle to Empire wheat?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe answer to both questions is that my right hon. Friend must await the Bill.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONWill the quota system apply to oats in Scotland as well as wheat?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThis quota scheme is for wheat only.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs it the Government's considered policy to apply tariffs first and think about marketing afterwards?
§ Mr. BOOTHBYDo the Government intend to take no action to assist the cereal producers of Scotland?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI am not satisfied that we are not doing so under this scheme. As I have indicated, other problems will have to be considered by the Government.
§ Mr. A. BEVANWould the right hon. Gentleman state whether the proposed legislation has received the approval of the Lord Privy Seal?