17. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the substantial amount of wheat-land that is being lost for the production of feeding-stuffs owing to the reluctance of the county war agricultural committees to give a certificate incases where farmers wish to plough more than 10 per cent. of their holding under their tenancy agreement, he will indicate to the chairmen of the county war agricultural committees the Government's intention to produce as much feeding-stuffs as possible where the type of land is suitable beyond question and that no certificates will be denied to tenants who are endeavouring to carry out this programme?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithI am not aware of any case in which a county war agricultural executive committee have declined to issue a direction where an occupier desired to plough up grassland and the land was suitable. It is, of course, the wish and intention of the Government that all land in this country should produce as much food and animal feeding-stuffs as possible, but, as my hon. Friend knows, such a policy does not 1620 imply the indiscriminate ploughing-up of grassland.
Mr. De la BèreIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that the war agricultural committees, although they have done exceedingly good work, need some support and guidance and that, in many instances, this has not been given? Will he be good enough to have a word with me on the matter?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThe county committees have had all the support and guidance of the Government, but there have been a few remarks from other people with regard to their work.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsIs it not the case that while a landowner may appeal against a war agricultural committee's decision that the land must be ploughed up, a tenant who desires to plough more than his quota has no appeal against the decision when the agricultural committee refuse?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThere is exactly the same appeal for landlord and tenant.
§ Mr. WilliamsIs that the case in connection with the quota, which is practically determined by the war agricultural committee? Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman ascertain in how many cases a tenant has desired to plough more than his quota but has been refused?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithI have tried to get that information, but it is very difficult to get.
§ 24. Colonel Burtonasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state in tabular form the number of acres ploughed up for each month since the £2 bonus per acre was offered, and in each month the sums paid out for such ploughing, together with the latest available figures of the total number of acres ploughed and the sums paid out in connection therewith?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithAs the reply contains a number of figures, I will, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Colonel BurtonWill my right hon. and gallant Friend just quote the totals?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithI think it would be better if I published them, because if I quote them now, they might be misleading.
§ Colonel BurtonIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that a large number of farmers are unable to get payments for this ploughing up, and that many of them now are unable to buy seed?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThat is another question. The main difficulty is caused by farmers who have made returns which do not coincide with the reports of the county committees, and so on.
Mr. De la BèreCould not the staff at Blackpool expedite these payments? Is it not possible to get some understanding in this urgent matter between London and Blackpool? It is very serious.
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThis branch has been strengthened.
§ Following is the reply:
§ It is not possible to state the number of acres ploughed up month by month, but the following table shows the total amount of the ploughing grants paid in each month.
| 1939. | Total. |
| October | £51,627 |
| November | £34,472 |
| December | £56,822 |
| 1940. | |
| January | £181,536 |
| February | £222,257 |
§ The total sum paid up to 15th March is £582,686. The acreage in respect of which the above payments have been made does not, of course, include that of land already ploughed up but in respect of which ploughing certificates have not yet been received from county war agricultural executive committees.
21. Mr. Graham White (for Mr. Wilfrid Roberts)asked the Minister of Agriculture which county war agricultural executives have now scheduled for ploughing the full quota allocated to them?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithAs the quota allotted to each committee represents only the minimum addition to the tillage area to be secured by the ploughing-up of grassland in their county, I do not think that it would be in the interest of the food production campaign to publish the information asked for at this stage, as it might lead to a relaxation of effort.