§ 55. Commander Maitlandasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will extend the latest date on which applications had to be made to claim benefit under the scheme for special acreage payment for spring crops sown on flood-damaged land.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsNo, Sir. Farmers were given ample time to apply for these payments.
§ Commander MaitlandDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that the 32 criterion of the real need is far more important than a dead line, and does he not realise that many farmers did not understand how bad things were going to be until they had sown their crops?
§ Mr. WilliamsThe hon. Gentleman must be aware that in April last year the possibility of making these payments was widely advertised, and that a six months' margin was given.