§ Mr. RAMSDENasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture, whether the price of barley on the British market has since control was removed now passed 110s. a quarter, and is still rising; whether, in view of the fact that this grain is uncontrolled, the farmers are now 481W intending to sow it in preference to wheat; whether this will cause a great decrease in the amount of bread stuffs grown in England; and whether, under the circumstances, he will consider the resumption of the control of the price of barley until such times as normal conditions are restored?
Sir ARTHUR BOSCAWENThe information at the disposal of the Board lends no support to the suggestion that farmers are reducing the area sown with wheat in order to sow barley in its place. The fact that particular samples of malting barley have this season risen to a high price, in comparison with the artificially reduced price of wheat under control, has no bearing upon the relative prices that may prevail next season. The Board do not propose to advise the Ministry of Food to resume control of the current crop of barley, a large proportion of which has already been sold.