67. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture at what date he will be able to make some announcement to the House regarding the new way of granting short- and long-term credits to agriculture; and whether he proposes that this new way will supersede the arrangements which have been previously in operation 2470 by the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonI do not understand what my hon. Friend means by the "new way" to which he refers. As regards the position of agricultural credit generally, I have nothing to add to the replies given to my hon. Friend on 1st November and to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesend (Sir I. Albery) on 8th December.
Mr. De la BèreMay I ask what progress has been made in agricultural credit facilities in the past three years? Did not my right hon. Friend tell me the last time I spoke to him in the House that there is a new way? Should not the farmers have just as favourable terms for credit as manufacturing industry?
§ Mr. MorrisonWhat I did inform my hon. Friend on a previous occasion was that discussions on this matter were proceeding with the National Farmers.' Union.
§ Mr. J. MorganIs it a fact that the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation are experiencing difficulty in serving the farming community?
§ Mr. MorrisonThere are difficulties in regard to the present situation of the Agricultural Marketing Corporation, and we hope to achieve a solution for them.