50. Mr. De Ia Bèreasked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence, in the event of any future wars, since ration cards alone without food would not prevent starvation, what steps he is taking to secure for this country an adequate supply of food?
§ Sir T. InskipI would refer my hon. Friend to the replies which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stone (Sir J. Lamb) and to himself on 18th February, and to what I said on the subject of food supplies during the debate on the same day. I explained that though the Government's task is directed to ensuring the uninterrupted supply of essential food and is not restricted to control and rationing schemes, it is not possible to furnish information at the present time.
68. Mr. De Ia Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state, in order that more food may be produced in this country in the event of any future war, what steps he proposes to take to retain the boys and young men on the land instead of allowing them to drift away to the towns?
§ The Minister of Pensions (Mr. Ramsbotham)I have been asked to reply. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend gave on 19th January last to a question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for South Salford (Major Stourton).
§ Mr. ThorneAre the Government doing nothing to put into cultivation all the land which is now out of cultivation?
§ Mr. RamsbothamPerhaps the hon. Gentleman will study the answer to which I have referred.