FARM PRICES AND PRODUCTION GRANTS (CHANGES) (Hansard, 20 March 1953)

§ Mr. G. Brown
asked the Minister of Agriculture to make a statement about the annual review of the economic condition and prospects of the agricultural industry.

§ Sir T. Dugdale
In the light of the statutory Annual Review of the economic condition and prospects of the agricultural industry which has been concluded this week the Government has decided on certain changes in farm prices and production grants. Details of these changes and of the main statistics considered in the Review are contained in a White Paper which is being made available today.

§ Mrs. Castle
asked the Minister of Agriculture the farm guaranteed prices for each year since the operation of the

EXPECTED AVERAGE ANNUAL GUARANTEED PRICES (a)

I.—Livestock and Livestock Products, 1948–49 to 1952–53 (April-March years)

Product 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52(b) 1952–53 (c)

s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d.

Milk, average wholesale price per gallon, including production bonus, attestation bonus and quality premiums … 2 6 2 8¾ 2 10 2 11¾ 3 2¼

Fat Cattle—steers, heifers and cow-heifers, average per live cwt., including quality premium … 98 3 102 9 105 2 116 11 124 7

Fat Sheep and Lambs, first grade, average of shorn and unshorn, per lb. dressed carcase weight, including headage payment (e) … 2 2(d) 2 2½(d) 2 2¾(d) 2 5 2 6¾

Fat Pigs—clean pigs per score deadweight, including quality premiums … 36 0 42 9 46 9 53 3½ 56 6 (f)

Hen Eggs, first quality, sold through packing stations, basic price per dozen … 4 0 4 1 4 1 4 3½ 4 7

Duck Eggs, first quality, sold through packing stations, per dozen … 3 9 3 0¼(g) 3 3¼(g)

Wool, average per lb. for fleece wool … — — 2 3(h) 6 0 4 6

NOTES:

(a) These expected annual average prices are as declared at successive Annual Reviews adjusted by the addition of any Special Review increases. They are not therefore necessarily the average prices actually received in the years in question, since the average is affected by changes in the seasonality of marketing, and by variations in the proportions of different grades. Owing to changes in grade specifications, particularly for cattle and pigs, it has not been possible, for each commodity, to present a strictly continuous series.

(b) Including additions awarded at the deferred Special Review, February 1951, only.

(c) Including additions awarded at the Special Review, November, 1951.

(d) Average for fat sheep only.

(e) Excluding spring lamb bonus and wool allowance.

(f) Clean pigs in quality premium range only.

(g) Guaranteed minimum price.

(h) Wool was added to the First Schedule of the Agriculture Act, 1947, in July 1950.

48W
1947 Act; and what are the proposed minimum prices for each year until 1955–56 for milk, hen and duck eggs, wool, per lb., cattle, live, per cwt., fat sheep and lambs and pigs per score.

§ Sir T. Dugdale
The information asked for in the first part of the question is given in the following tables.
As regards the second half of the Question I would refer the hon. Lady to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Derbyshire, South-East (Mr. Champion), on 5th March last, in which expected average prices for 1952–53 were set out in terms approximately corresponding to those of the minimum prices up to 1955–56, but not in every case corresponding to these tables. These minimum prices were given in my reply to the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd) on 23rd February last.
49W

II.—Crops harvested in 1948–53

Crop 1948 1949 1950 1951(a) 1952(b) 1953

s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d.

Wheat:

Millable, average seasonal price per cwt. 23 0 23 3 28 0 28 4 29 6 30 9(d)

Acreage payment per acre 60 0(c) 60 0(c) Nil Nil Nil Nil

Barley:

Malting, maximum, per cwt. 30 0 30 3

Millable minimum per cwt. 23 0 23 3 none fixed

Feeding, minimum per cwt. — — 21 6 21 10 23 6 25 0

Oats:

Milling, maximum per cwt. 20 6 20 9 none fixed

Feeding, minimum per cwt. 18 7 18 10 19 4 19 8 21 2 22 2

Rye:

Millable, minimum per cwt. 23 0 (e) 23 3 (e) 23 0 21 10 22 0 25 0

Acreage payment per acre 60 0 (c) 60 0 (c) 60 0(c) Nil Nil Nil

Sugar Beet:

15.5 per cent. sugar content, per ton 105 0 106 9 107 0 108 6 112 2 114 9 (f)

Potatoes:

Maincrop, per ton 175 0 181 9 185 0 228 6 239 0 244 0

Acreage payment per acre 240 0(g) 240 0(g) 200 0(h) Nil Nil Nil

NOTES:

(a) Including additions awarded at deferred Special Review, February, 1951.

(b) Including additions awarded at Special Review, November, 1951.

(c) Payable on first 10 acres.

(d) As from August 1st, 1953, the fixed price for wheat will become the average seasonal minimum price for wheat.

(e) Fixed price.

(f) For 1953 onwards the scale of sugar beet prices are determined in relation to sugar beet of 16¼ per cent. sugar content. For purposes of comparison with earlier years, the figure shown in the table is for beet of 15½ per cent. sugar content.

(g) Payable on first 10 acres only. For area in excess of 10 acres the rate was 160s. 0d. per acre.

(h) Payable on total acreage.

EXPECTED AVERAGE ANNUAL GUARANTEED PRICES (a)
I.—Livestock and Livestock Products, 1948–49 to 1952–53 (April-March years)
Product	1948–49	1949–50	1950–51	1951–52(b)	1952–53 (c)
		s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
Milk, average wholesale price per gallon, including production bonus, attestation bonus and quality premiums	…	2	6	2	8¾	2	10	2	11¾	3	2¼
Fat Cattle—steers, heifers and cow-heifers, average per live cwt., including quality premium	…	98	3	102	9	105	2	116	11	124	7
Fat Sheep and Lambs, first grade, average of shorn and unshorn, per lb. dressed carcase weight, including headage payment (e)	…	2	2(d)	2	2½(d)	2	2¾(d)	2	5	2	6¾
Fat Pigs—clean pigs per score deadweight, including quality premiums	…	36	0	42	9	46	9	53	3½	56	6 (f)
Hen Eggs, first quality, sold through packing stations, basic price per dozen	…	4	0	4	1	4	1	4	3½	4	7
Duck Eggs, first quality, sold through packing stations, per dozen	…	3	9	3	0¼(g)	3	3¼(g)
Wool, average per lb. for fleece wool	…	—	—	2	3(h)	6	0	4	6
NOTES:
(a) These expected annual average prices are as declared at successive Annual Reviews adjusted by the addition of any Special Review increases. They are not therefore necessarily the average prices actually received in the years in question, since the average is affected by changes in the seasonality of marketing, and by variations in the proportions of different grades. Owing to changes in grade specifications, particularly for cattle and pigs, it has not been possible, for each commodity, to present a strictly continuous series.
(b) Including additions awarded at the deferred Special Review, February 1951, only.
(c) Including additions awarded at the Special Review, November, 1951.
(d) Average for fat sheep only.
(e) Excluding spring lamb bonus and wool allowance.
(f) Clean pigs in quality premium range only.
(g) Guaranteed minimum price.
(h) Wool was added to the First Schedule of the Agriculture Act, 1947, in July 1950.

II.—Crops harvested in 1948–53
Crop	1948	1949	1950	1951(a)	1952(b)	1953
	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
Wheat:
Millable, average seasonal price per cwt.	23	0	23	3	28	0	28	4	29	6	30	9(d)
Acreage payment per acre	60	0(c)	60	0(c)	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Barley:
Malting, maximum, per cwt.	30	0	30	3
Millable minimum per cwt.	23	0	23	3	none fixed
Feeding, minimum per cwt.	—	—	21	6	21	10	23	6	25	0
Oats:
Milling, maximum per cwt.	20	6	20	9	none fixed
Feeding, minimum per cwt.	18	7	18	10	19	4	19	8	21	2	22	2
Rye:
Millable, minimum per cwt.	23	0 (e)	23	3 (e)	23	0	21	10	22	0	25	0
Acreage payment per acre	60	0 (c)	60	0 (c)	60	0(c)	Nil	Nil	Nil
Sugar Beet:
15.5 per cent. sugar content, per ton	105	0	106	9	107	0	108	6	112	2	114	9 (f)
Potatoes:
Maincrop, per ton	175	0	181	9	185	0	228	6	239	0	244	0
Acreage payment per acre	240	0(g)	240	0(g)	200	0(h)	Nil	Nil	Nil
NOTES:
(a) Including additions awarded at deferred Special Review, February, 1951.
(b) Including additions awarded at Special Review, November, 1951.
(c) Payable on first 10 acres.
(d) As from August 1st, 1953, the fixed price for wheat will become the average seasonal minimum price for wheat.
(e) Fixed price.
(f) For 1953 onwards the scale of sugar beet prices are determined in relation to sugar beet of 16¼ per cent. sugar content. For purposes of comparison with earlier years, the figure shown in the table is for beet of 15½ per cent. sugar content.
(g) Payable on first 10 acres only. For area in excess of 10 acres the rate was 160s. 0d. per acre.
(h) Payable on total acreage.