HC Deb 22 January 1942 vol 377 c418
54. Mr. Price

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the difficulties and delays in the threshing of corn, which may result in some farmers being unable to get their wheat threshed till the spring, he will take steps to secure that there be no reduction in price of wheat at the end of the winter as at present contemplated?

Mr. Hudson

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a Question on the same subject put by the hon. and gallant Member for Petersfield (Sir G. Jeffreys) on 20th January.

Mr. De la Bère

Does the Minister realise the difficulty in selling wheat to-day, and will he look into the whole position and see what is millable and what is not millable and why millers will not offer millable wheat and pay a proper price for it? The whole position is very wrong and unsatisfactory.

Mr. Hudson

Perhaps the hon. Member will provide me with a particular case.

Mr. De la Bère

I will give my right hon. Friend many hundreds.

Mr. Price

Is the Minister aware that in many districts there is insufficient threshing tackle to deal with the wheat which ought to be threshed well before the spring?

Mr. Hudson

There may be an odd case here or there, but, generally speaking, I think there is sufficient threshing tackle. Growers of wheat are being given priority in the use of threshing tackle.