§ 43. Sir G. Mitchesonasked the Minister of Agriculture how the production of flax last year compared with that of 1914; and whether His Majesty's Government propose to take any steps to encourage the revival of flax-growing in the United Kingdom?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThe area under flax in the United Kingdom in 1938 amounted to 24,287 acres compared with 41,209 acres in 1914. I regret that figures of production of flax for the whole of the United Kingdom are not available but for Northern Ireland alone, in which the greater part of the acreage under flax lies, the production was 4,036 tons in 1938 and 6,688 tons in 1914. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 2nd March to my hon. Friend the Member for Ormskirk (Sir T. Rosbotham).
§ Mr. Godfrey NicholsonCan my right hon. Friend say what was the acreage in Britain?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithNo, Sir.