§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he can state the average price per cwt. now being paid for American hops imported into this country?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe prices paid for the American 1919 crop, range from £7 10s. to £28 per cwt. The latter price has been recently made for quite a small quantity only the bulk of the crop 1063W having been sold at between £12 and £15 per cwt.
§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture how many cwts. of foreign hops have been licensed for importation into this country during 1919 and 1920?
Sir A. BOSCAWEN413,879 cwts. of foreign hops have been licensed for importation into this country during 1919 and 1920, to cover shortage owing to the reduction of the English acreage. This with the 1919 English crop, amounting to 187,193 cwts., is about sufficient for the year's requirements.
§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he can state the number of acres of hops grubbed by Government Order during the war; and whether, in view of the fact that the National Farmers' Union have estimated that it will cost £200 per acre to replant these hops, it is intended to grant any compensation to hop growers for the losses inflicted upon them?
Sir A. BOSCAWENDefence of the Realm Regulation 2NN required a reduction of 50 per cent. of the hop acreage of June, 1914, and the result has been that the hop acreage in England and Wales has been reduced from 36,661 acres in 1914,-to 16,745 acres in 1919. With regard to the second part of the question, the Ministry have been informed by the Defence of the Realm (Losses) Commission that they have found themselves unable to award compensation where loss has been due to an Order of General Regulation, as is the case with Regulation 2NN.