§ Mr. J. E. B. Hillasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent advance payments will be made on account of deficiency payments for the cereal year 1957–58 in respect of barley, oats, mixed corn, and rye.
§ Mr. GodberAdvance payments on barley, oats, mixed corn and rye have been considered in consultation with the Cereals Deficiency Payments Advisory Committees on which the principal interests concerned with the production and marketing of these crops are represented. The deficiency payment on these crops cannot be calculated until after the end of the cereal year but advance payments may be made if they seem justified. It has been decided to make an advance payment on barley at the rate of £5 per acre, and on oats and mixed corn at the rate of £3 per acre. The average market price of rye is not much below the standard price so an advance payment is not justified.
The payments will begin shortly and are expected to total about £20 million.