64. Mr. E. Martin Smithasked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the serious loss which is being caused to this year's sugar beet harvest due to farmers being unable to get their crops accepted by the factories; and what steps he proposes to take about it.
§ Mr. WebbThe hon. Member's Question gives, I regret to say, a wrong impression of the situation. It is true that we are facing a record crop, for which I am sure we are all grateful. It is also true that the factories are working to capacity and are accepting beet as fast as they can handle it. But no farmer has—or will have—his crop refused. The Corporation is bound to purchase all sugar beet offered within the terms of the growing contracts. Those contracts will