47. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in connection with the increased wage which has been announced to farm workers and the consideration which has been given to the question of a revision of prices to meet this increased cost, he will give an assurance that due consideration will be given to the case of the small farms of approximately 100 acres, since the increase will more greatly affect their earning capacity than that of the larger farms of approximately 1,000 acres?
§ The Minister of Agriculture (Mr. R. S. Hudson)Although I do not accept my hon. Friend's view that the wage increase bears particularly hardly on the small farm, the Government have always been anxious to assist small farmers as much as possible to overcome their special difficulties. Measures such as the acreage payments on potatoes, wheat and rye, and the marginal production scheme have been introduced for this purpose. The position is kept under review; the increase in the acreage payment on wheat from the 1944 harvest, recently announced, is for example intended to benefit the small man. A general price increase would not be a suitable or acceptable method, since 1686 amongst other disadvantages it would not differentially benefit the smaller farmer.
Mr. De la BèreIs my right hon. Friend aware that I welcome the increase in wages for the farm worker? Further, is he not also aware of the pledges given by responsible Government spokesmen that these matters should be adjusted? Is not this another matter that the Government have specially failed to comprehend?