§ Mr. Priorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the new arrangements for adjusting deficiency payments on barley.
151W
§ Mr. SoamesThe Government announced in the White Paper on the 1961 Annual Review that deficiency payments on barley in the 1961–62 cereal year would be adjusted so as to encourage a better seasonal spread of marketings by growers. This will be achieved by making deductions from acreage payments for deliveries early in the season and paying premiums for deliveries later in the season.
After consultation with representatives of the growers, merchants and main users of barley, it has been decided that the seasonal scale of deductions and premiums for barley in 1961–62, and the periods to which they relate, will be:
For each cwt. of barley delivered (after sale) in Rate of deduction or premium (per cwt.) July, August, September or October 9d. deduction. November or December No deduction or premium. January or February 1s. 0d. premium. March, April, May or June 1s. 6d. premium. Deductions will be made or premiums paid on growers' deliveries (after sale) of barley, except deliveries to a farmer who uses the barley on his own holding. 152W Growers who retain their barley, or part of it, for use on their own holdings will not incur any deduction or qualify for premium on the barley which is retained. Growers should bear in mind that deliveries of 1960 crop barley made in the 1961–62 cereal year beginning on 1st July next will be subject to the new arrangements; for example, old crop barley delivered in July, 1961, will incur the deduction.
The necessary Statutory Instruments amending the Cereals (Deficiency Payments) Order, 1955, and the Cereals (Protection of Guarantees) Order, 1958, to provide for these new arrangements will be laid before the House as soon as possible.