§ LORD FRASER OF LONSDALEasked Her Majesty's Government:
If they will estimate what are the prospects for harvests this year in the United Kingdom.
LORD ST. OSWALDEstimates of crop acreages this year are so far available only for England and Wales. The acreages both of cereals and potatoes will probably be a little higher than last year.
Indications of likely yields per acre cannot be reliable at this time of the year. They suggest, however, that the cereal harvest will be late but that the yield should be at least average. The yield per acre of early potatoes has probably been slightly below average, but it is too early to forecast the yield of the main crop. The progress of the hay harvest has been hampered by unsettled weather.
I will send the noble Lord a copy of the provisional results of the June census as soon as possible.
House adjourned at twenty-four minutes past five o'clock.