asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state if the incidence of the midge disease in wheat this year is as serious as it was in 1951.

So far as can be ascertained at present the damage caused by the wheat midge this year will be considerably less than last year owing to weather conditions less favourable to the pest and also to the spraying with D.D.T. preparations which has been carried out in a number of areas where the wheat midge was in evidence.