50. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture, whether he will confer with the Minister of Food for the purpose of publishing an agreed statement setting out which of the existing subsidies to farmers can be ascribed for the benefit of the primary producers only and which of the remainder of the subsidies can be classified as beneficial to the consumer only.
§ The Minister of Agriculture (Mr. R. S. Hudson)I regret that it is not practicable to classify subsidies in the way suggested by my hon. Friend.
Mr. De la BèreIs the Minister not aware that, in a recent pronouncement he made at Tonbridge, he confused the whole issue; and will he not remember that, while he is trustee for the welfare of the agricultural community, it is not quite just that he should confuse the issue in this way?
§ Mr. HudsonWhat I really said was that the subject was very confusing.