§ 37. Brigadier-General Clifton Brownasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the valuable organic matter in the rubbish and waste products of the towns to restore fertility to the soil; and whether he will consult the Minister of Health and local authorities to make this better known and more easily available to the farmers so that they can have a cheap and effective method of increasing the productivity of their soil?
§ The Minister of Agriculture (Mr. W. S. Morrison)I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of a leaflet issued free by the Ministry, entitled "Town Refuse as Manure," from which he will see that steps have already been taken to draw attention to this use of town refuse and to the methods adopted by certain local authorities in dealing with the material in the interests of farmers.
Brigadier-General BrownIs the Minister aware that the waste products in other countries are used on the land to a much greater extent than is the practice here?
§ Mr. MorrisonYes, Sir. I think that if my hon. and gallant Friend will study the report he will see that this refuse is valuable on the land.
§ Mr. DaltonIs there any purpose in furnishing additional supplies of manure in view of the Government's statement that they do not wish more food grown here?