§ 19. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the present level of profitability of cereals; and what steps he is taking to increase the margin.
§ Mr. HoySubstantial increases have been made in the guaranteed prices for wheat and barley for the 1969 harvest and the standard quantity for barley is being abolished. These measures, following the increases in the guaranteed prices and the abolition of the standard quantity for wheat in 1968, will increase profitability substantially and should give cereal growers the resources and confidence for expansion.
§ Mr. DigbyIs the Minister aware that although these increases are welcome as far as they go, they are not enough to offset the decreased yields in Dorset after four exceptionally wet years?
§ Mr. HoyThey are very substantial increases, and, coming on top of last year's, they are great encouragement. I 470 agree that harvesting was bad last year, but no Government—I have never known one—can make all that allowance for weather.