68. Viscountess ASTORasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in fixing 1976 the guaranteed price of wheat at 45s. in the Wheat Bill, he has aimed at giving a fair profit to those who grow wheat in this country at the cheapest cost of production or at the average cost of production?
§ Sir J. GILMOURIn fixing the standard price of 10s. per cwt. careful consideration was given to all available information concerning costs of production: that figure was selected as likely to afford a measure of assistance to growers of wheat generally who are faced with the present abnormal conditions and without encouraging an extension of the cultivation of wheat to unsuitable land.
Viscountess ASTORDoes the sight hon. Gentleman think that paying a subsidy for wheat will not have the effect of encouraging farmers to grow wheat who never yet have grown it and never will grow it economically?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe Noble Lady must not assume anything of the kind.
§ Captain P. MACDONALDIs it not a fact that no subsidy for wheat is proposed and that none is contemplated?
§ Mr. MARJORIBANKSMay I ask what is the price of the Russian wheat which comes here?