HC Deb 12 March 1959 vol 601 cc1568-70

Motion made, and Question proposed, That a Supplementary sum, not exceeding £10, be granted to Her Majesty, to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1959, by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for grants and subsidies to farmers and others for the encouragement of food production and the improvement of agriculture; for payments and services in implementation of agricultural price guarantees; and for certain other services including a payment to the Exchequer of Northern Ireland.

9.20 p.m.

Mr. Frederick Peart (Workington)

May I ask for an explanation of the calf subsidy and the additional number of calves? While I welcome it, may I be told the reasons for the increase in the calf subsidy?

My next question concerns cereals. I understand that the increased figure here is due to an all-round fall in market prices; but to what extent have the buyers affected prices, what has been the influence of the millers on prices and what has been the Treasury's r.le? If there has been a fall in cereal prices, why has there been no fall in the price of bread? What does the Minister mean by "variation of quantities"?

Again, on Subhead B5, has the price of imported wool fallen? How has it affected prices for home-produced wool?

9.21 p.m.

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. John Hare)

I will respond briefly to the series of important questions which the hon. Member has flung at me, but I should like to deal with them in detail later. There was an unexpectedly large increase in the retention of calves on the farms with the heavy demand for beef stores. The Supplementary Estimate takes into account the increased number of calves which are expected to qualify for subsidy. This is something about which we can feel well pleased, because it shows that we are building up our supplies of beef in this country.

I want to help the hon. Member, and I think that it would be better for me to answer the other questions in detail at a later stage or privately rather than to continue my speech now.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolved, That a Supplementary sum, not exceeding £10, be granted to Her Majesty, to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1959, by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for grants and subsidies to farmers and others for the encouragement of food production and the improvement of agriculture; for payments and services in implementation of agricultural price guarantees; and for certain other services including a payment to the Exchequer of Northern Ireland.