§ 41. Mr. W. Robertsasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can make a statement as to the method by which the Government's reserve of tractors is to be made available for the use of farmers?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithTractors from the Government reserve will be assigned to county war agricultural executive committees upon a plan which takes into account the amount of grassland to be ploughed and the estimated numbers of agricultural tractors already located in each county. These tractors, of which a first consignment will be sent to each county within the next few days, will be worked by the county committees who will undertake, on a contract basis comparable with the arrangements made by agricultural contractors, the ploughing up of grassland and any subsequent cultivations that may be necessary, for farmers who have been unable to get their land ploughed by other means. Full particulars of these plans are contained in a circular letter that was issued to county committees on 18th September. I am sending a copy of this letter to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. RobertsWhile thanking the right hon. and gallant Gentleman for his reply, may I say that I have seen a copy of that circular and I wonder whether he could given an assurance that a point which is not clear in it will be cleared up, namely, that the county committees may use the reserve of tractors especially in those counties which are short of tractors before all the tractors in private hands are already in use so that the county committees may get on with the job?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThe committees can get on straight away.
§ Mr. Craven-EllisWill the drivers be provided for these tractors?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThey are now being trained and the county committees will be able to use their own initiative as to the way in which they use the available drivers.
§ Mr. John MorganWill not the effective use of these tractors be nullified unless they are accompanied with sets of implements with which they can be worked?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThat is fully understood.