HC Deb 10 November 1949 vol 469 cc1394-6
51. Mr. Renton

asked the Minister of Agriculture why his Department are insisting that claims for acreage payments should have been made by 1st October without the grant of any extensions of time, whereas during the previous season claims did not have to be made until April and even then some elasticity was granted.

Mr. T. Williams

Acreage payments for 1949 are being made for the first time under the provisions of a Statutory Instrument and in such cases it is usual to fix a limited period for the submission of applications. Powers were reserved in the instrument to accept late applications in special circumstances and as there has been some faulty or ineffective publicity I have sent fresh instructions to county agricultural executive committees with a view to avoiding hardship.

Mr. Renton

Is the Minister aware that September is a very busy time for farmers, especially for small farmers, and that it is much better to try to leave these administrative tasks until the winter months, when a farmer has more time on his hands for that sort of thing? Will he kindly bear that in mind in future?

Mr. Awbery

Will the Minister consider revising his method of payment and pay according to the amount produced and not according to the number of acres? Are there not farmers who sow seed and are not concerned about what they get from the ground so long as they get the subsidy from the Minister?

Mr. Williams

We have already the power either to withhold or reduce the subsidy if we find that proper cultivation is not being carried out.

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

Has the right hon. Gentleman ever known of a case such as that quoted by the hon. Member for Central Bristol (Mr. Awbery)?

Mr. Williams

Yes, Sir.

57. Mr. Dye

asked the Minister of Agriculture what changes it is proposed to make in the payment of the acreage subsidy on potatoes.

Mr. T. Williams

The changes contemplated in 1950 are:

  1. 1. The rate of payment will be £10 per acre, instead of £12 for the first 10 acres and £8 per acre thereafter.
  2. 2. Farmers will be required to grow at least ¼ of an acre of potatoes instead of 1/10th of an acre in order to qualify for acreage payment, and payment will be made for each complete ¼ acre instead of each complete 1/20th.
In addition, although I do not propose to make any change in the good husbandry provisions of the Crop Acreage Payments Order, more effective steps will be taken in administering those provisions to ensure that growers whose crops are adversely affected through wilful negligence whether in cultivation or harvesting will be liable to the withholding or reduction of the sum otherwise due.

Mr. Dye

Will there be any obligation on those who receive the subsidy to sell for human consumption all the potatoes for which the acreage payment is made?

Mr. Williams

I suppose that the obligation rests there so long as the Ministry of Food require them for human consumption.

Mr. Baldwin

Is the Minister aware that the best method of getting potatoes is to do away with the subsidy altogether and pay a right price for the article produced?

Mr. Williams

If the soil and climate throughout England and Wales were uniform we might do that.

Mr. D. Marshall

What is the difference in the overall total payment?

Mr. Williams

That would depend on a number of factors, including the acreage planted.