HC Deb 20 June 1917 vol 94 c1775
38. Mr. LAURENCE HARDY

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture how soon the actual demand for the ploughing of grass land will be made upon the farmers of the country, so as to justify their application for the actual amount of labour, manure, and equipment which has been promised to them?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Sir Richard Winfrey)

The present position is that the county agricultural executive committees have been told the acreage which the Board estimate should be cultivated in each county in order to obtain the required acreage under cereals and potatoes, and the committees have been asked to consider and report whether and in what manner the contributions suggested from them can be secured, and what their requirements are in additional labour, manure and equipment. Until their answers are received I am unable to say on what dates ploughing operations under the scheme will begin in the different counties.