61. Lieut.-Colonel Geoffrey Clifton-Brownasked the Minister of Agriculture why many farmers in East Anglia are being informed by the sugar-beet factories that they must grow a smaller acreage of sugar-beet than they did last year.
§ Mr. G. BrownIn 1948, farmers in certain counties of East Anglia were allowed to make contracts for more than the county quota in order to make up a deficiency in other parts of the country. This year there has been no serious deficiencies, and it has been necessary to keep the acreage in these counties much nearer to the quota.
Lieut.-Colonel Clifton-BrownDoes the hon. Member not realise that by restricting the acreage he will make it much harder for the farmers to get their rotations going?
§ Mr. BrownWe have actually accepted for 1949 a greater acreage than the target for both the counties in which the hon. and gallant Gentleman is interested?