§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the announcement that the Government cannot hold out any hope of extending the hop control for a further period, he can state what steps the Government intend to take to safeguard the industry after the hop control comes to an end?
Mr. SMITHMy right hon. Friend is satisfied that in future hop growing will find its best safeguard in development without control or interference front Government. My right hon. Friend has already suggested to representatives of the hop growers that they can do much to stabilise their industry by forming themselves into an association for the collective sale of English hops, and has indicated that the Ministry would be prepared to assist such au association with a loan towards its capital requirements in the same manner as it has promised assistance to similar co-operative associations.
§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the Minister of Agriculture what is the quantity of foreign hops in bond or sanctioned for import into this country?
§ Mr. BUXTONI have consulted the Hop Controller and consider that it is undesirable to publish these figures while the negotiations for the disposal of the 1924 crop are still going on.