HC Deb 09 May 1940 vol 360 c1425W
Sir R. Gower

asked the Minister of Agriculture to what extent at the present time statistics of agricultural production are made available in confidence to the National Farmers' Union; and whether, in particular, the production figures of milk, sugar-beet, pigs and crops, are made known to them in this way?

Sir R. Dorman-Smith

The publication of statistics of agricultural production is restricted in war-time, but my hon. Friend will appreciate that it may be necessary for the purpose of consultations to disclose in confidence to the National Farmers' Union or other responsible organisations certain statistical information, for example, in regard to crop acreage and livestock numbers. Statistics of the production of crops of the 1939 harvest, including sugar-beet, have been published.