§ 15. Mr. WATTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the large landowners are not doing their fair proportion of ploughing up grass land, on the plea that they have not horses for such work; whether his figures bear out this opinion; is he aware that high prices are being got this year for grazing land, sometimes as high as £5 an acre, and that these prices accrue to those who refuse to act according to the Government's demands; and will he take 1387 any action, with the assistance of the Food Controller, to limit grazing prices or to take over all grazing lands and apportion them?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir R. Winfrey)The President has not received any evidence to support the suggestion that large landowners are failing to plough up their allotted proportion of grass land. He is aware of the high value of grass land this year, and is considering whether any action can be taken to prevent occupiers who may fail to carry out orders to plough from deriving the benefit of the high prices which might accrue to them from their default.
§ Mr. WATTWill the hon. Gentleman make inquiries as to whether it is the fact that large landlords are not doing their share in ploughing up grass land?
§ Sir R. WINFREYIf the hon. Gentleman will give any specific case I will look into it.