§ 13. Mr. HENDERSON STEWARTasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is yet in a position to make an announcement regarding the Government's Measures to assist growers of oats and barley?
§ Major ELLIOTAs regards oats, there is nothing I can add to the reply given on 18th May by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for East Aberdeen (Mr. Boothby). As regards barley, I would remind my hon. Friend of the undertaking given in the letter from the Brewers' Society quoted by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget speech.
§ Mr. STEWARTIn view of the feeling of uncertainty among farmers, will not the Minister consider making a full statement explaining the difficulties with which he is faced—a statement similar to that made recently by the Parliamentary Secretary?
§ Major ELLIOTI am not sure whether the hon. Gentleman refers to barley or oats.
§ Mr. STEWARTOats.
§ Major ELLIOTThe position is very fully set out in the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and in the letter from the Brewers' Society which the Chancellor 466 of the Exchequer gave on the Floor of the House in his Budget speech.
§ Mr. STEWARTDoes the right hon. and gallant Gentleman realise how strong the feeling is among Scottish farmers, and how much they feel that they are not being properly treated about this matter?
§ Major ELLIOTI am sure that my hon. Friend realises that no mere words on the Floor of the House will dispel any such feeling. It is only a question of a real alteration in price, and no information that I can give in the House can alter that. Only action will alter it.