HC Deb 10 February 1947 vol 433 cc28-9
56. Mr. Hurd

asked the Minister of Agriculture how much sugar-beet was awaiting delivery to the factories on 15th January; what has been the subsequent loss through frost damage; and what steps he is taking to ensure that there will be in future years sufficient factory capacity to handle, in the normal season, the whole of the crop grown under the Government's guarantee of markets and prices.

Mr. T. Williams

Approximately 900,000 tons of beet still remained to be delivered to factories on 15th January, but this has since been reduced to under 200,000 tons. It is not possible to estimate the total frost damage which the crop has suffered since 15th January, but the quantity rejected on arrival at factories has only been some 10,000 tons. The question of additional factory capacity is already under consideration but in 1946 a very heavy yield was secured from an exceptionally large acreage, and I consider that the outcome does not reveal any serious shortage of factory capacity.

Mr. Hurd

How will growers recover the loss incurred through the inability of the factories to deal with the acreage they grew under the Ministry's direction?

Mr. Williams

The hon. Member is aware that this is an exceedingly heavy crop and in some cases the areage has been exceeded. The two things taken together have brought about the extraordinary circumstances with which, I think, the factories have dealt fairly expeditiously.

Mr. Medlicott

Is the Minister aware of the urgent need for an additional beet-sugar factory in Norfolk, which is a large county and in which the sugar-beet industry is of great importance?

Mr. Williams

The question of another factory is under consideration.

Mr. Hare

Will the Minister answer the Question put by my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd)? Those farmers, who were directed to grow sugar-beet, have suffered great losses; is any compensation to be offered to them?

Mr. Williams

The hon. Gentleman has not satisfied me that the factories have not been able to deal with the beet which is available. Only when the sugar factories are incapable of dealing with a normal crop will the question of compensation arise.