§ 19. Mrs. Tateasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the perturbation felt by the war ploughing-up sub-committee in the Frome division owing to their inability to get new ploughs for tractors, either by private order, long since given, or by way of the county committees; and whether, in view of the 11 urgency of the question, he will take immediate steps to remedy the shortage?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithI am aware that owing to the increased demand from farmers since the outbreak of war the stocks of tractor ploughs in the hands of the trade have been exhausted. Home manufacturers are working to full capacity to meet the farmers' demand, and importers have also arranged to increase their supplies. I have made purchases of ploughs imported from North America for immediate use with Government tractors operated by county war agricultural executive committees. I have supplied 20 tractors and 20 ploughs to the Somerset committee, and I expect that further supplies of ploughs will be available for committees at the end of the present month.
§ Mrs. TateWhile thanking my right hon. Friend may I ask him to see that some of those ploughs are diverted to the Frome division?