HC Deb 01 March 1932 vol 262 cc931-2
15. Mr. BARCLAY-HARVEY

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received any communication from the four banks on the Treasury's views on the granting of agricultural credits to Scottish farmers?

Sir A. SINCLAIR

No, Sir.

Mr. MACPHERSON

When does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman expect to have some information with regard to this question?

Sir A. SINCLAIR

The Treasury wrote about 10 days or a fortnight ago, but they have not had an answer, and I cannot tell how soon an answer will be received.

Mr. MACPHERSON

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman expedite this matter, because the Scottish farmers are at a great disadvantage as compared with the English farmers?

Sir A. SINCLAIR

I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that my Department have done everything that is possible in this matter, but we cannot give orders to the banks as to when they shall reply.

Lieut.-Colonel MOORE

To what is the delay due? Negotiations on this subject have been going on now for over six months.

Mr. MACPHERSON

Two years.

Sir A. SINCLAIR

Delay at the present time is due to the fact that we are waiting for an answer from the banks to a letter which was sent to them about a fortnight ago.

Mr. R. W. SMITH

If the banks are unable to settle this question by credits, can the Government not take some steps in the meantime to give facilities to the farmers for credits? They have been waiting for years, and that seems very unfair.

Sir A. SINCLAIR

I agree that it is most unsatisfactory that the farmers should have to wait so long for credits, but we have now narrowed down the position to one point, and I hope that that point will soon be settled.

Mr. KIRKWOOD rose

—

Mr. SPEAKER

Several supplementary questions have already been asked. Major Beaumont Thomas.

Mr. KIRKWOOD

With all due respect to you, Mr. Speaker, this is a question which I raised with the Secretary of State for Scotland, and the supplementary question I wish to put is whether it is not the case that this question of the banks, as far as the farmers of Scotland are concerned, was brought up during the late Labour Government, and it has never been pressed to finality yet.

Mr. SPEAKER

That question does not arise.