§ 48. Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the injury to the national interest threatened by the imminent bankruptcy of arable farmers and by the inadequate 251 wages paid to their workers, the Government will give fresh and favourable consideration to the recommendation of the Selborne Report that, by fixing a minimum wage for the agricultural worker and guaranteeing a fixed price to the farmer, the condition of agriculture should be made so stable that, out of its profits, the agricultural labourer would be assured a fair wage and the cultivator of the soil a fair return for his capital. energy and brains?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Sir Robert Sanders)The recommendation to which the hon. Member refers appears to involve the payment of a subsidy to the agricultural industry. The Prime Minister has recently stated on behalf of the Government that any such proposal must be regarded as impracticable under existing financial conditions.