§ 30. Colonel Ropnerasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that farmers are experiencing difficulty in obtaining their requirements of lime and basic slag; and whether the Government intend to extend the provisions of the Agriculture Act, 1937, for a longer period than that contemplated under the Act?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithMy information is that there is no general shortage of supplies of lime, but the Land Fertility Committee will be glad to inquire into any cases of difficulty. I am aware that the available supplies of basic slag are not sufficient to meet the increased demand caused by the Land Fertility Scheme. As I indicated in the reply which I gave on 24th March to a question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Brecon and Radnor (Mr. I. Guest) the position in this respect should improve in the near future as a result of the increased output of steel. As regards the second part of the question, the Agriculture Act, 1937, provides that the date prescribed for the termination of the scheme, namely, 31st July, 1940, may be postponed for two successive periods of one year each, by orders made by the Ministers concerned and confirmed by a resolution of each House of Parliament, and it would, in my opinion, be premature at this stage to consider the question of further extension.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsWill the right hon. Gentleman, before introducing any further amending Acts, tell us when that long-term policy is likely to be forthcoming of which he spoke during the East Norfolk by-election?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThat is not mentioned in the question.
§ Mr. ThorneAm I to understand that there is a shortage of basic slag? If so, is the Minister not aware that there are thousands of tons of it round the blast furnaces?