53. Mr. Davidsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, since the alteration in the guaranteed prices for wheat and barley cannot influence farm policy in upland areas where conditions may be unsuitable for wheat growing and where barley is grown for feed, if he will reconsider making barley eligible under the Winter Keep Scheme and, if used as home-grown feed, making it eligible for the same premiums as other barley retained on the farm until spring.
§ Mr. RossNo. The purpose of the Winter Keep Acreage Payments Scheme is to encourage the growing of crops for the winter feeding of livestock, and a considerable proportion of barley is sold as a cash crop. The Barley Incentive Scheme is designed to encourage orderly marketing and does not apply to barley retained for feed.