§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any information regarding the price offered to farmers for sugar beet by the subsidised factories for the season 1928; whether he has received any representations from beet growers on the matter; and whether he has yet any information as to the acreage which is likely to be devoted to sugar beet for the season 1928?
§ Sir H. BARNSTONUnder the contract arranged between the National Farmers' Union and the proprietors of the existing factories, the price to the grower for topped and washed beets delivered at the factory in each of the seasons 1928, 1929 and 1930 will be 46s. per net ton of 15½ per cent, sugar content, plus an addition at the rate of 3s. for the first 1 per cent, above 15½ per cent, and 3s. 4d. for each additional 1 per cent. The reduction in respect of beets below 15j per cent, will be at the rate of 3s. for each 1 per cent.
The answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative.
As regards the third part, the beet sugar factory companies estimated in October, 1927, that 291,800 acres would be devoted to sugar beet cultivation in 1928.