§ 9. Miss Quennellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what tonnage of home-grown barley he estimates will be taken up by the brewing industry this year.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartAbout 800,000 tons.
§ Miss QuennellI am obliged to my hon. Friend for that reply. Can he give any idea of the future uptake by the 200 industry of home-grown barley? Does he expect it to rise, to fall, or to remain static?
§ Mr. StodartAlthough prediction is always dangerous, it is almost certain that the uptake will increase as the years go by. Beer consumption is increasing by between 2 and 3 per cent. every year, and I expect the use of home-grown barley to rise in line with it.