§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the damage to soil structure by the adverse conditions for lifting the current sugar beet crop; and what acreage he estimates will be planted in 1975.
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§ Mr. StrangSome damage to soil structure must have occurred, particularly on the heavier land on which about 40 per cent. of the crop was grown. Previous experience suggests that the effect is un likely to last for more than one year, given normal weather between now and the planting of the next crop. The British Sugar Corporation has not yet received all the 1975 contracts from growers but the response so far is encouraging.