§ 13. Sir J. Gilmourasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total tonnage of sugar beet delivered to the Cupar factory of the British Sugar Corporation by Scottish growers; what is the average yield per acre; and what as a result is the average profit per acre to Scottish sugar beet growers.
§ Mr. RossDuring the processing campaign for the 1965 crop 97,040 tons were delivered to the Cupar factory from 192 Scottish growers, showing an average yield per acre of 11.55 tons. Insufficient information is as yet available on which to estimate average profit.
§ Sir J. GilmourWould not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the very small increase in the price of sugar beet given in last year's Price Review has been more than swallowed up by increased costs caused by his party?
§ Mr. RossWe had better wait until we get the figures before we argue about that. However, I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will approve of something which was certainly welcomed by the growers—the change in relation to transport allowances that we have already announced.
§ 14. Sir J. Gilmourasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what tonnage of sugar beet from the area outside the Cupar factory area has been sent to the Cupar factory; and what as a result has been the average transport cost per ton in sending sugar beet to the Cupar factory.
§ Mr. RossThe answer to the first part of the question is 35,000 tons. This increased the average expenditure by the British Sugar Corporation on the transport of beet to its factory from all sources from about 8s. to about 16s. per ton.
§ Sir J. GilmourDo not these figures illustrate that if the growers had been given an increased price last year, instead of the Government unnecessarily spending money on importing beet, this would have had the very great benefit of increasing the sugar beet acreage in Scotland and giving a reasonable profit to the Scottish sugar beet growers?
§ Mr. RossThat does not necessarily follow. I think that part of what happened last year was a reaction from 1963 rather than the price that we offered last year. If the hon. Gentleman would care to follow this through, I do not think that the people who work in the Cupar factory itself would have accepted that what he has suggested would be right.
§ Mr. Bruce-GardyneHas the right hon. Gentleman considered what effect the 10s. charge on commercial vehicles 193 on the Tay Road Bridge is likely to have on beet growers sending their crops to Cupar from north of the Tay?