HC Deb 22 April 1918 vol 105 c659
9. Sir FRANCIS BLAKE

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether landlords and tenant farmers have, generally speaking, willingly carried out the decisions of the county executive committees regarding the ploughing of grass lands; and what percentage of the whole new acreage brought under cultivation during the last six months is due to the use of Government tractors or other Government aid?

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

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Speaking generally, landowners and farmers have responded admirably to the appeals of the executive committees. In reply to the second part, it is not possible at present to distinguish the proportions in which the increased cultivation is due to Government tractors or other forms of Government aid.

Mr. WATT

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a general feeling that the large landowners are not doing their proportion of the ploughing up?

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Gentleman has just answered that question.