§ 51. Mr. Baldwinasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the order which compels farmers to sell 75 per cent. of the wheat which they grow to the Minister of Food at a price lower than that which they have to pay for animal feedingstuff can now be lifted, so that home pig and poultry production can be increased.
Mr. T. WilliamsNo, Sir. Our need of wheat for human consumption will not permit of this change. I am, however, able to announce one small relaxation. Growers of up to two acres of wheat are allowed at present to retain the whole of their wheat. To encourage such growers to increase their wheat acreage those who grow more than two acres may after 30th June next retain two tons or 25 per cent. of their production, whichever is the greater.
§ Mr. BaldwinIs the Minister aware that the compulsory order means that 2004 the farmers have to sell their raw material at a lower price than they had to pay for similar raw material from abroad? Will he convey to the hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. S. N. Evans) and those who think like him that that does not sound very much like a feather bed for farmers?
Mr. WilliamsThe hon. Member must know that we have just had the February Price Review, in the preparation of which all these factors were taken into account.
§ 52. Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Minister of Agriculture what acreage of wheat, both winter and spring, had been sown at the latest convenient date; and how this compares with the average over the last five years.
Mr. T. WilliamsThe agricultural returns of 4th December last gave an England and Wales acreage of wheat sown by that date of 1,530,000 acres compared with a corresponding average of 1,833,000 acres over the previous five years. The five-year average for all wheat sown, including spring wheat, was 2,065,000 acres. This year, for reasons well known to the hon. and gallant Member, I am afraid that the final area sown will not be anything like the 1950 figure.
§ Major Legge-BourkeHas the right hon. Gentleman looked into the position so far as spring varieties of wheat for sowing are concerned? Is he satisfied that there is a sufficient supply of spring varieties for sowing this month and early next month?
Mr. WilliamsI am satisfied that sufficient spring wheat was available to have provided even up to the equivalent of last year's sowing if the weather conditions had been favourable.