§ 47. Colonel Burtonasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will be in a position to state the prices which the Government will guarantee for farming and dairy produce, and also for poultry 596 and eggs, prior to the date upon which the minimum agricultural wages come into operation?
§ The Minister of Agriculture (Mr. R. S. Hudson)I hope to be in a position to make an announcement on this subject in a broadcast on Saturday evening.
§ Mr. Lees-SmithDoes the right hon. Gentleman think it necessary that a very important statement like this should be kept from the House and reserved for a broadcast?
§ Mr. HudsonI had hoped to be able to announce it this afternoon. There was every intention to make a statement in answer to a Private Notice Question; but the matter is frightfully complicated, and I am very sorry to say that it was not possible to make the announcement in that way. I apologise to the House, but in the circumstances I am afraid it was impossible.