§ Mr. Chaterasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the total amount of assistance given to the agricultural industry in Great Britain in the last three years for which figures are available
— 1934. 1935. 1936. £ £ £ Wheat Deficiency Payments* 6,781,504 5,611,276 5,618,812 Beet Sugar Subsidy 4,449,883 2,285,570 2,980,978 Beet Sugar Rebate of Taxation 2,882,000 2,660,000 2,407,000 Cattle (Payments to Producers) 1,899,042 (7 months) 3,597,492 3,715,322 Milk (Payments to Milk Marketing Boards) 1,233,060 1,713454 938,598 17,245,489 15,867,792 15,660,710 * These amounts were paid out of the Wheat Fund under the Wheat Act, 1932. The periods covered are the cereal years ended 31st July, 1935, 1936 and 1937. It is not possible to express in terms of money the benefit which agriculture has derived from derating during these years. The amount included in the block grant in respect of the year 1928–29 on the basis of benefit to agriculture in that year totalled approximately £10,800,000.