HC Deb 01 March 1954 vol 524 cc73-4W
Mr. Hollis

asked the Minister of Agriculture to make a statement on the result of his negotiations with the interests concerned about future dried grass marketing policy.

Sir T. Dugdale

In reply to their recent representations, the Association of Green Crop Driers have been informed that while I appreciate the difficulty of finding profitable outlets for dried grass at a time when manufacturers and consumers of feedingstuffs are well supplied with alternative material, I cannot see my way to ask Parliament to amend the First Schedule of the Agriculture Act, 1947, by the addition of dried green crops. Consequently I have no power to introduce any scheme of payments to dried grass producers generally to supplement the prices received on the open market. Such measures as lie in my power to alleviate the immediate difficulties of these producers are being taken, and expert help has been offered for developing any scheme for a marketing and storage organisation which the industry feel able to put forward.