HC Deb 16 December 1946 vol 431 cc1605-6
58. Major Wise

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in view of the losses incurred by farmers this year through the big margin in prices between milling and unmillable grain, he will consider, in reviewing prices in February, closing the gap so that, in future, agricultural producers will not cease to grow corn for home consumption following their losses arising from a difficult harvest.

Mr. T. Williams

The difference between prices of millable and non-millable grain does not appear to me to be excessive and is in any case bridged by the intermediate prices which are payable for potentially millable grain. I am confident that fanners, in planning for the future —especially under the present system of guaranteed prices and markets—do not attach undue importance to an occasional bad year.

Mr. Turton

Will the Minister make representations to the Minister of Food and ask him to pay more than the minimum price for barley of good quality taken by his Department?

Mr. Williams

The hon. Gentleman must be aware that the prices for barley for the following cereal year are fixed in the previous February, and it would be folly for the Minister of Food or anyone else to interfere with the prices fixed.

Mr. Turton

Surely, the Minister is inaccurate. There- is a maximum and a minimum price fixed for barley and the Minister of Food pays the minimum not the maximum.

Mr. Williams

I am sure the hon. Member is aware that the Minister of Food pays the maximum price for the quality of barley that is sent for quality purposes.

Mr. Hurd

Will the Minister look at the differentiation in grading between millable and non-millable wheat, so as to bring a full amount of home-grown wheat into the nation's bread basket in January and February?

Mr. Williams

We are making strong appeals to the farmers of this country to thresh as much wheat as possible during the months of December and January, because of the known wheat shortage. I am sure the hon. Member knows that the margin between the millable and non-millable is not sufficiently large to discourage farmers threshing at such an early date.