§ 25. Sir L. Plummerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he can now estimate the cost of implementing the deficiency payment scheme for home-grown barley of the 1957 crop.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. J. B. Godber)No, Sir. This will depend on the average "at farm" price realised by growers from their sales of barley based on returns covering the whole of the current cereal year, which does not end until the 30th June, 1958. It is not possible, at present, to make a reliable forecast of the average price for the year.
§ Sir L. PlummerIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that, in East Anglia particularly, both merchants and maltsters are offering low prices to farmers for barley, saying, in effect, that they can recoup themselves through the deficiency payments? Does this not show that it is likely that the deficiency payments will be higher than the £10 million estimated?
§ Mr. GodberI agree that both this year and in previous years I have heard that argument used in relation to buyers in their approaches to farmers, but it is too early yet to say what the deficiency payment will be. We accept that it may be considerable, but any decrease in the price of barley means corresponding help in regard to pig prices.
§ Mr. WilleyIs the new basis of this guarantee an improvement? May I ask the Minister to assure the House that he will keep the question under review, because we will not tolerate the misuse of these guaranteed payment arrangements at the expense not only of the producer but, equally, of the taxpayer?
§ Mr. GodberI am sorry, but I do not quite follow the hon. Member in his reference to the new method. Does he mean the new basis under the 1957 Act? That has not really changed the position. Perhaps we can have a word together about it afterwards if he wishes.