asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of the serious decline in the acreage of grain grown during 1963-64, he will make an announcement providing for an increase in the guaranteed price of wheat and barley, and outlining any further measures which he considers necessary to deal with this serious trend.

All relevant factors will be taken into account in considering the question of the guaranteed prices for wheat and feeding barley of the 1965 harvest. An announcement will be made at an early date.

Is the Minister aware that, because of the very fine season, ploughing is well under way and farmers are arranging their programme for the coming year? Is not an early announcement very desirable?

I agree an early announcement is desirable and I shall endeavour to make it as soon as possible.

God be with the salad days when it was thought a crime if the announcement were not made in September.

And wheat would go up the spout.

Where is it now?

What frauds you are over there!

Deputies should not talk about "old, unhappy, far-off things".