51. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture, in view of the admitted importance of maintaining the livestock population of this country, and since it is possible to keep a greater head of livestock on arable farms than on grass 402 farms, whether he will make some provision to enable farmers operating arable farms to retain, if necessary, the whole of the cereals they obtain from their arable land for the maintenance of the livestock on their own farms?
§ Sir J. EdmondsonA farmer is at present at liberty to retain for feeding to his own stock the whole of the cereals grown on his farm. In the case of wheat, however, he would, by so doing, have to forgo any deficiency payments to which he might otherwise be entitled under the Wheat Acts.
Mr. De la BèreIs my hon. and gallant Friend aware that this is not a question of deficiency payments, but that what is wanted is confidence by the farmer that the Government will ensure equitable distribution and confidence that supplies will be distributed in such a way that the milling combines will not be able to dominate the position?