§ Mr. Granvilleasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the serious position of many of the barley growers in Suffolk owing to the cut of the maltsters this year, resulting in a loss of £1 per quarter to the farmers, and if he will consider taking steps to compensate them for this deficiency.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsThe Government guarantee to barley producers is to provide an assured market at a prescribed minimum price for their product, but growers are permitted within a higher maximum to obtain the best price they can from maltsters or other buyers. No compensation would therefore be justified for any reduction in a farmer's receipts arising from a contraction in the malting demand or other similar cause.