HC Deb 12 May 1949 vol 464 cc2003-4
59. Mr. Dye

asked the Minister of Agriculture what acreage of sugar-beet the Norfolk farmers have contracted to grow in 1949; how this figure compares with that of 1948; and whether he will give an estimate of the anticipated difference in the nett income to the grower per acre in 1949 compared with that in 1948.

Mr. T. Williams

At 30th April last Norfolk farmers had contracted to grow 94,602 acres of sugar-beet this year, as compared with final contracts for 94,088 acres in 1948 and with 95,324 acres actually grown last year. No significant difference in the net income per acre of sugar-beet compared with 1948 is expected.

Mr. Dye

Has not my right hon. Friend omitted the fact that most of the growers also buy back the pulp? The price of the pulp has been raised by no less than £7 a ton and the cheque does not include the cost of the pulp, so that the nett amount is bound to be less.

Mr. Williams

Yes, Sir, but by the same rule there has been an increase of 2s. per ton over the average price for sugar-beet announced in 1947, and, of course, once the beet tops are fed to beef animals, there has also been an increase of 4s. 6d. a cwt. in the price of beef.

Mr. Dye

Has not my right hon. Friend forgotten that he has allowed for a decrease in the price of the very large, beautiful bullocks now fattened in that area?

Mr. Williams

If my hon. Friend will look at the price of feedingstuffs, he will find that the price of dried sugar-beet pulp is very much less than the price of other feedingstuffs; for instance, beet pulp, £12 11s. 3d. to £13 1s. 3d. compared with oats, £22 2s. 6d., maize, £19, and linseed cake or decorticated groundnut cake, about £21. Therefore, the price is not excessive.