§ Colonel Burtonasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can make a statement relative to the guaranteed prices to be fixed for wheat and other agricultural products, having regard to the fixation of agricultural workers' wages?
Mr. HudsonThis matter is still under active consideration and I hope that a statement can be made shortly.
§ Captain Yorkasked the Minister of Africulture whether he is aware that many dairy farmers do not make as much profit a week as the wages they pay to any one of their workers, under the £3 a week minimum scheme; and whether he will investigate the possibility of increasing the price of milk to enable such farmers to earn a decent livelihood?
Mr. HudsonI appreciate that in a large industry such as that of dairy farming the returns obtainable by individual producers vary widely, but I am satisfied that the present prices for milk have been fixed on a basis which allows a reasonable return to producers, having regard to the increased costs of production since the war. The question of the further increase to be938W made in these prices in respect of the recent alteration in the minimum agricultural wage is under consideration, and an announcement will be made very shortly.