HC Deb 22 November 1937 vol 329 c839
30. Mr. De la Bère

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, to give full effect to the new lime and basic slag scheme, the Government are prepared to give a special grant for ditching and drainage, seeing that farmers are unable, owing to lack of working capital, to carry out sufficient ditching and drainage?

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr. W. S. Morrison)

The answer is in the negative. During the Debates on the Agriculture Act I explained why the new assistance provided for schemes of Land Drainage under that Act was being concentrated on arterial drainage.

Mr. De la Bère

Are the Government aware that what the farmer wants is cheap money at 22 per cent.?

Mr. Morrison

I do not see the connection between the supplementary question and the question on the Order Paper.

Mr. Paling

In view of the inability of the farmers and landlords to do this necessary work without constantly putting their hands into the public purse, is it not necessary that we should take over the land and nationalise it?