asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the total acreage devoted to hop culture in Britain in each of the war years; and what acreage he proposes to devote to this purpose in the coming year.Mr. T. Williams: The hop acreage during the war years has been as follows:

1939	…	…	…	18,812
1940	…	…	…	18,592
1941	…	…	…	18,158
1942	…	…	…	18,420
1943	…	…	…	19,131
1944	…	…	…	19,603
1945	…	…	…	19,957

As to the last part of the Question, county war agricultural executive committees have been authorised to grant licences for new acreage up to a total cultivated area of 22,500 acres, and I hope that at least 21,000 acres will be grown in 1946.