§ 41. Mr. GRANVILLEasked the Minister of Agriculture when the Government intends to introduce its agricultural proposals?
§ Mr. N. BUXTONIf the hon. Member refers to legislative proposals, the answer is that I propose to introduce a comprehensive Land Drainage Bill early in the new year. If he refers to administrative proposals, I would remind him that the Government has already announced, and in many cases set on foot, a considerable number of proposals of this character for the benefit of agriculture, including grants for field drainage and water supply schemes; assistance for the extension of county educational activities beyond the 959 limits set by the late Government; development of national institutions for agricultural education and research, for which and other purposes a sum of £500,000 has been paid into the Development Fund; the initiation of a farm management survey; more active administration of the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act, 1924; the provision of an additional £20,000 for assistance by way of loan towards the erection of village halls; easier conditions for loans to cooperative enterprises; and the provision of £12,000 a year for the investigation of the organisation aspect of the agricultural marketing problem.
§ Mr. GRANVILLEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a growing opinion in the House and in the country that the present Government, like the late Government, have no effective agricultural policy?
Captain MACDONALDWill the right hon. Gentleman consider introducing measures to regulate the water-logged state of the Ministry of Agriculture?