§ 46. Mr. Rogersasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will now state the estimated loss in sugar production as a result of the floods in areas where sugar-beet is grown?
§ Mr. T. WilliamsSugar-beet had not been sown before the flooding and there is, therefore, no direct loss. Sugar-beet may be sown as late as the first week of June, and in appropriate cases where the growing of sugar-beet this year on land abnormally flooded presents exceptional risks, this crop will be eligible for assistance at the rate of £10 per acre under the scheme already announced. Any loss of acreage will, as far as possible, be offset by granting additional contracts to growers who are in a position to fulfil them. It62W is still too early to make a final assessment of the position, but taking all these factors into account, it is not expected that sugar-beet production this year will fall short of the target by more than the equivalent of approximately 30,000 acres.