§ 45. Viscount WOLMERasked the Prime Minister whether he will grant a day for the discussion of the agricultural policy of the Government?
The PRIME MINTSTERI regret that, in view of pressure of Parliamentary business, I cannot find time for the purpose indicated before the Whitsuntide Recess.
§ Viscount WOLMERWill the right hon. Gentleman say why agriculture always comes last in the consideration of the Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIf I may give a somewhat inadequate reason, I am following a precedent made years ago.
§ Major COLFOXIs not the only reason the fact that the Labour party has not an agricultural policy?
§ 60. Mr. TURTONasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has received a copy of a resolution unanimously passed by a mass meeting of farmers, farm labourers, and landowners on 17th May at Easingwold, Yorkshire, claiming that measures should be taken to assure the farmer a remunerative price for cereals; and whether he is able to give any assurance that such measures will figure in his agricultural policy?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of AGRICULTURE (Dr. Addison)My right hon. Friend has received a copy of the resolution referred to. The reply to the last part of the question is that the Government can hold out no prospect of food taxes or subsidies.
§ Mr. TURTONWill a guaranteed price figure in the right hon. Gentleman's policy, when introduced?
§ Dr. ADDISONI cannot make any statement on that point.
§ Viscount WOLMERWill the right hon. Gentleman tell us what prospect he can hold out.
§ Dr. ADDISONThat is a different question.
§ 61. Mr. TURTONasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has received the resolution of the agricultural mass meeting held on 17th May at Easingwold, Yorkshire, requesting that he will receive a deputation, representing all the agricultural interests, to lay before him the serious condition of the industry in that neighbourhood; and what reply he has given to this request?
§ Dr. ADDISONMy right hon. Friend has received a copy of the resolution referred to, suggesting that a deputation be received by the Prime Minister, the Lord Privy Seal, the Minister of Labour, and my right hon. Friend. The Government has the benefit of the advice of a national agricultural conference on the condition of the industry, and my right hon. Friend does not think that the suggested deputation would add anything material to the information already available.
§ Viscount WOLMERDoes the Government propose to take the advice of the National Agricultural Conference?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe National Agricultural Conference did not give specific advice.
Mr. GUINNESSDid not the National Agricultural Conference come to a unanimous decision to recommend that cereal growing should be made remunerative?
§ Dr. ADDISONThat is a general recommendation. It gave no specific advice.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEAre we to understand that the advice of the National Conference is not going to be followed, in spite of the answer the right hon. Gentleman gave to the question?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe National Conference passed a general resolution. That is quite different from specific advice.
§ Viscount WOLMERDid not the National Conference also specifically advise the Government that the Forces of 990 the Crown should be fed on home-grown meat and bread? Is not that sufficiently specific?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe impracticability of following that recommendation is demonstrated by the fact that the last Government did not follow it.
§ Major COLFOXIs this Government ever going to do anything?