HC Deb 09 December 1946 vol 431 cc752-3
52. Mr. Piratin

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the acreage of spring wheat sown in England and Wales in the years 1939, 1945 and 1946.

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Thomas Williams)

Farmers are not asked to make separate returns of the area under spring wheat, but it may be roughly inferred from other data that the acreage for the 1945 harvest was around—

Mr. Piratin

On a point of Order. I cannot hear what the Minister is saying, and as I had occasion last week to put a supplementary question following an answer which I only half heard, may I ask him to speak up?

Mr. Williams

I said that farmers are not asked to make separate returns of the area under spring wheat, but it may be roughly inferred from other data that the acreage for the 1945 harvest was around 350,000, and for the 1946 harvest around 150,000. Corresponding figures for the 1939 harvest are not available. These spring wheat acreages vary considerably from year to year according to weather conditions.

Mr. Piratin

Is the Minister prepared to tell the House, therefore, that it was only a question of weather conditions which reduced the acreage from 350,000 to 150,000?

Mr. Williams

Yes, Sir.