Wheat and Barley (Hansard, 31 March 1965)

§ 11. Mr. Kitson
asked the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the estimated acreages of wheat and barley for the 1965 cereal harvest.

§ Mr. John Mackie
I would refer the Member to the reply I gave on 24th March to the hon. Members for Eye (Sir H. Harrison) and Lowestoft (Mr. Prior).

§ Mr. Kitson
Does the hon. Gentleman think that the substantial cuts in the guaranteed price of cereals this year will reduce the acreages for the next?

§ Mr. Mackie
No.

§ Sir J. Maitland
In a period where incomes are expected to increase in various trades and businesses throughout the country, has the hon. Gentleman made any estimates of the loss of income which will occur in the wheat and barley growing areas such as Lincolnshire, and, if so, what are they?

§ Mr. Mackie
Naturally, being a farmer I have made these estimates, and I have done what a lot of other farmers have already done, and that is just to look at how one could increase yields. The hon. Member gets a little impatient. All right, if he will just wait I will tell him how. Another half hundredweight of ammonia and better seeds will do the trick.

§ Mr. Sheldon
Would not my hon. Friend agree that the subsidies paid for grain are a direct subvention from the taxpayers to the farmers, and will not he further agree that, as far ahead as one can foresee, those grains will be available in other countries both in the quantity required and at a price very considerably cheaper than that here? Will he further assure this House that he does not intend habitually and indefinitely to capitulate to one of the best organised pressure groups in the country?

§ Mr. Mackie
I am afraid that I would not altogether agree with what my hon. Friend has said, although there is some truth in the point that he is putting.

§ Mr. Snow
On a point of order. When the last reply was given from the Front Bench on this side I saw certain Members of the Opposition pointing up to the Public Galleries. I ask your guidance in this matter, Mr. Speaker. Should we not ignore entirely persons outside this Chamber?

§ Mr. Speaker
It is not a breach of order not to, but it is highly desirable that we should.

§ Sir H. Harrison
May I ask the Minister whether he has considered that the cut in the price of barley will perhaps lead to more than the 4 per cent. legally allowed under the 1957 Act—that is, if the cut is taken together with the reduced subsidy on fertilisers, then in spirit it will be more than 4 per cent.?

§ Mr. Mackie
No. That would be a very complicated calculation and I cannot do it off the cuff at the present moment.