§ 69. Mr. WRIGHTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture, in view of the fact that the Board have informed agricultural executive committees that any large new ploughing programme is impracticable till the labour position is substantially or permanently improved, or until a fresh emergency arises, and instructions have been issued that no fresh orders to plough up grass land should be served before the 21st of August, whether it is his intention to issue, after the 21st of August, during the adjournment of this House, orders under the Defence of the Realm Regulations to the committees to carry out fresh ploughing programmes?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir Richard Winfrey)The question of the instructions to be issued to the committees 1359 as to the food production for next year is under consideration, but any orders to plough up grass land will in future be subject to appeal and reference to arbitration, in accordance with the Corn. Production (Amendment) Bill, and will be conditional on an adequate supply of skilled labour for cultivation as well as ploughing.