HC Deb 18 April 1918 vol 105 cc559-60
34. Captain WRIGHT

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if, in view of the importance of food production he will consider, in conjunction with the War Office, the Ministry of Munitions, and the Ministry of food the issue of a joint weekly publication or the setting up in every county of an intelligence office or clearing home of information and so plane at the disposal of war executive committees, owners, farmers, allotment-holders, labourers and the consuming public means for ascertaining in a concise and simple form the matters and conditions which are from time to time applicable to agricultural industry?

Sir R. WINFREY

A Joint Committee of the Board of Agriculture and the Ministry of Food has recently been established for the purpose of carrying out the objects to which the hon. find gallant Member refers. They will not issue a joint weekly publication, but they will send out explanations of new Government Orders or Regulations in the simplest possible form. A considerable number of correspondents have already been appointed in different parts of the country, and their number is being increased. The Committee is also holding and arranging public meetings through the country to encourage food production, and, incidentally, to explain Government Orders and Regulations affecting agriculture. The correspondents who are being appointed will continue the work of these public meetings, and will generally act as information officers for their different districts.