HC Deb 27 October 1970 vol 805 c18W
Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take, in view of the recent announcement that there is unlikely to be a deficiency payment on barley this year, for the Home-Grown Cereals Authority to obtain their levy income to finance the Forward Contracts Bonus Scheme.

Mr. Prior

My agricultural colleagues and I have reviewed the situation with the Authority. It will be necessary for them to borrow in order to meet their liabilities, but it is intended to recover the amount involved from growers if not this year then subsequently and Orders will be laid before Parliament in 1971 accordingly. However, the Authority have been assured that if they are unable to meet their debts because of an inability to collect money owing to them the Government will seek Parliamentary approval to make a payment to the Authority to enable them to meet such debts.