§ 61. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Agriculture what value of hops, at current prices, will be wasted as a result of the decision of the Hops Marketing Board to allow an 84 per cent. quota only, for acceptance; and what steps he is taking to avoid such wastages in future years.
§ Sir T. DugdaleThe main purpose of the Hops Marketing Scheme is to provide stable conditions for both the producers and the buyers of hops. This is done by trying to relate supply to demand with the help of quotas allocated to registered producers. Since the estimated demand for hops this year is less than the producers' basic quotas, the Hops Marketing Board has determined 84 per cent. of the basic quota to be the annual quota for 1953, so as to give all registered producers their share of the estimated demand. The quantity of hops left unpicked this year is not known, and its value, whether at current prices, or if thrown on to a market already fully supplied, cannot be calculated. If demand, both home and overseas, stays below the total basic quota, I would expect the acreage to decline.