§ 22. Major COLVILLEasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is able to make any further pronouncement regarding the proposals of the Government to assist agriculture in Scotland?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. William Adamson)My replies to the hon. and gallant Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Sir A. Sinclair) and the hon. and learned Member for East Fife (Mr. D. Millar) on the 26th November and 6th instant, respectively, indicate the principal steps already taken to assist the agricultural industry in Scotland. I am not yet in a position to make any further pronouncement, but, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, the matter is receiving the closest attention.
§ Major COLVILLEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, so far from improving, the situation in Scotland is growing more serious, and that there is very grave dissatisfaction at the negative attitude of the Government in the matter?
§ Mr. ADAMSONI am quite well aware of the position of the agricultural industry in Scotland, but with the last part of the hon. and gallant Gentleman's supplementary question I do not agree.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND - TROYTEDoes the right hon. Gentleman's reply mean that he is following in the footsteps of the Minister of Agriculture and doing nothing?
§ 33. Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has received any representations as to the effect of the present crisis in agriculture in Scotland in reducing the number of agricultural workers and the number of pairs of horses employed, and in the laying down of land in grass; and whether he can state what effects have been created in the above directions as a result of the present unremunerative price of cereals and potatoes?
§ Mr. ADAMSONI am aware of the general statements which have been made to the effect that the present situation has a detrimental effect on agricultural employment. I have no recent statistical information bearing on the matter. The next returns will be obtainable in June of this year.
§ Mr. MILLARHas not the right hon. Gentleman a monthly return from the Department of Agriculture in Scotland dealing particularly with these facts, and is there not, in point of fact, a Journal issued by the Department which deals with these facts?
§ 34. Major Sir ARCHIBALD SINCLAIRasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is yet in a position to state when Part I of the Agricultural Credits (Scotland) Act, 1929, will be brought into operation; and to what extent the provisions of Part II of the same Act have been taken advantage of?
§ Mr. ADAMSONI am not yet in a position to state when Part I of the Agricultural Credits (Scotland) Act, 1929, will be brought into operation, but I am doing my best to find a solution of the difficulties. I am not able to say to what extent advantage has been taken of Part II of the Act, but I have no reason to suppose that much has been done under it.
§ Sir A. SINCLAIRIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the delay in bringing Part I of the Act into effect is causing considerable hardship among the occupying owners, and can he give an assurance that it will be brought into effect before next term?
§ Mr. ADAMSONI am aware of it, but, as I have already explained, I am doing everything that I can to get a scheme under Part I of the Act at the earliest possible moment.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the English farmers have got benefits under their Agricultural Credits Act, while the Scottish farmers have not such benefits, and will he explain why there should be a preference in England as against Scotland?
§ Mr. ADAMSONI am well aware of the fact that a scheme has been arranged in England, but, while the banks in England have been prepared to finance these schemes, the banks in Scotland have not been prepared. As regards the last part of the supplementary question, I fear that a reply would take more time than is allowed within the limits of a Parliamentary answer.