§ 11. Mr. Bryanasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the average yield of barley per acre over the five years 1950 to 1954, inclusive; and by What method the figure is estimated.
Mr. AmoryThe average yield of barley in England and Wales over the five years 1950–54 was 20.6 cwt. per acre. Annual estimates of production and acreage are provided by officers of the National Agricultural Advisory Service 2506 who obtain their information from threshing contractors, representative farmers and other persons able to give reliable information.
§ Mr. BryanWill my right hon. Friend say why the barley deficiency payment is based on the average yield for those very same years of 19.4 cwt.?
Mr. AmoryThere are technical reasons for that which I should find it very difficult to explain to my hon. Friend in answer to a Question. But I will write to him and explain the reasons for that differentiation.
§ Mr. BryanIs my right hon. Friend aware that either of these two figures seems almost unbelievably low to the barley growers in the Wolds of Yorkshire, and unsatisfactory as a basis for the barley deficiency payment?
Mr. AmoryThat is the figure of the average of these years. The comparable yield for 1955 would be about 25.4 cwt.