§ Mr. J. Hudsonasked the Minister of Agriculture what was the total acreage devoted to hop culture in Britain in each of the war years; and what acreage he proposes to devote to this purpose in the coming year.
Mr. T. Williams: The hop acreage during the war years has been as follows:
1939 … … … 18,812 1940 … … … 18,592 1941 … … … 18,158 1942 … … … 18,420 1943 … … … 19,131 1944 … … … 19,603 1945 … … … 19,957 As to the last part of the Question, county war agricultural executive committees have been authorised to grant licences for new acreage up to a total cultivated area of 22,500 acres, and I hope that at least 21,000 acres will be grown in 1946.