§ 41. Mr. Farrasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the full refund of abatement will be given to those farmers who have marketed their cattle in the current period of market depression.
§ Mr. PeartI cannot yet say what proportion of the abatements from the guaranteed price in the current period will be made up to producers at the end of the year. This will depend on the size of the sum available and on the period to be covered in its distribution.
§ Mr. FarrWill the right hon. Gentleman give consideration, early next year, to abandoning the whole of this scheme of abatement, because as I think he will agree, it quite obviously does not serve the purpose for which it was designed, to take off the large numbers of cattle 453 that come into the English market in a time of flux?
§ Mr. PeartIt is a pity that the hon. Member did not say that when his own Minister brought this scheme in. I am trying to work it. However, if changes have to be made this is a matter for consultation.