§ 55. Major Sir George Daviesasked the Minister of Agriculture the quantity of basic slag delivered up to 31st December, 1937, under the land fertility scheme; and whether he can furnish estimates of the quantity of home-produced slag used by farmers in the United Kingdom during the year ended 31st May, 1937, and of the quantity that will be available during the year ending 31st May next?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonThe quantity of basic slag delivered under the Land Fertility Scheme up to 31st December, 1937, that is, during the first four months of the scheme, was 268,000 tons; the quantity used by farmers in the United Kingdom during the 12 months ended 31st May, 1937, was 240,000 tons; the estimated quantity that will be available for deliveries under the scheme in the current fertiliser year ending on 31st May, 1938, is 478,000 tons.
§ Mr. De ChairCan the right hon. Gentleman explain how it is that merchants are not able to obtain supplies of basic slag?
§ Mr. MorrisonI am aware that there has been some dislocation of supply, which is not surprising considering that in the first four months of the scheme more basic slag was made available than in the 12 preceding months. My information is that in the next fertiliser year, starting at the end of May next, additional supplies will become available, which will materially ease the position.
§ Mr. ThorneHave the British farmers any difficulty in getting supplies of basic slag?
§ Mr. MorrisonI am aware that there have been some difficulties, but, as I have stated, the amount made available in the first four months of the scheme exceeded the total supplied in the 12 months preceding.