Sugar-Beet Acreage

HC Deb 18 December 1952 vol 509 cc252-3W

114. Major Beamish

asked the Minister of Agriculture to publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the acreage under sugar-beet in Sussex, Surrey, Kent and Hampshire in 1950, 1951, 1952 and the estimated acreage for 1953; and if he will give the main reasons for the fluctuations.

Sir T. Dugdale

With regard to the second part of the Question, conditions in the sowing season cause minor fluctuations from year to year. I think that a main reason for the reduction in the sugar-beet acreage in 1952 was the increasing popularity of fodder beet.

SUGAR BEET ACREAGES
—	1950*	1951*	1952*	1953†
East Sussex	924	1,072	940	1,000
West Sussex	4,434	4,479	4,073	4,300
Surrey	457	509	433	550
Kent	1,583	1,700	1,347	1,600
Hants	2,579	2,748	2,599	2,750
* Estimated acreages extracted from annual Agricultural Returns.
† County Quota Allocation.