§ 7. Mr. Hawkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will invite the British Sugar Corporation to consider the erection of a new sugar beet factory in the centre of Norfolk to cut down transport costs, which have become a cause of concern to farmers in this area.
§ Mr. HoyNo, Sir. There are already three factories in Norfolk, at Cantley, King's Lynn and Wissington. I am informed by the British Sugar Corporation that the capacity of these factories is adequate to deal with the beet grown in Norfolk.
§ Mr. HawkinsDoes the Minister agree that the provision of an additional factory would enable the campaign in East Anglia to finish before the worst of the weather came on, which would mean that a lot of beet which is now left on our farms in Norfolk would be able to get to the factory? In that case will the hon. Gentleman ask the Sugar Beet Corporation to investigate this matter again and report to him?
§ Mr. HoyNo. I must point out to the hon. Gentleman that factory accommodation is quite adequate to meet all 441 that the farmers care to supply. We cannot argue about who should lift it—that is a job for the farmer—but provided he lifts it and delivers it, factory accommodation is more than sufficient to meet requirements.
§ Mr. LoveysIs the Minister aware that many sugar beet growers in the south of England feel that those in East Anglia are jolly lucky to have as many factories as they have there? If there are to be more factories, should not priority be given to my part of the country?
§ Mr. SoamesWill the Minister say whether the existing factories have sufficient capacity to take all the sugar beet produced, including the increased acreage allowed by the previous Government?
§ Mr. HoyYes. The present factory accommodation can take what is produced, but if the situation should change we should have to reconsider it. At present, I repeat, factory accommodation is sufficient to take all that is produced.