§ 56. Mr. J. H. Hareasked the Minister of Agriculture what is the reason for the considerable increase in the cost of sugar-beet pulp.
Mr. T. WilliamsThe increase in price of dried sugar-beet pulp is part of the general increase in the level of feeding-stuffs prices announced in the statement I made in reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Winchester (Mr. G. Jeger), on 24th January.
§ Mr. HareDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that a more than 100 per cent. increase in the price of this feedingstuff bears extremely hard on those farmers who make most use of it? Does he realise that in the Eastern counties this will have a very serious effect on the production of milk and beef? Will he listen to representations that some reduction should be made in the increase?
Mr. WilliamsThe increase in the price of this feedingstuff was taken into account when fixing prices for beet in the February review and also when we were fixing the price of the end product, namely, beef.