§ Mr. Arthur Greenwood(by Private Notice)asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now in a position to give any information for the guidance of farmers regarding the Government's plans for expanding the home-production of food in time of war?
§ The Minister of Agriculture (Colonel Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith)As the answer may be considered somewhat long, perhaps the House will be content if it is circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ The Government have called on farmers to intensify and increase production from their land and in many cases to change their farming systems from those which were adopted under the economic circumstances prevailing in time of peace to those best adapted for national requirements during the war. It is necessary to plough up and grow crops on land on which such crops would not have been remunerative at pre-war prices as well as to grow more of our requirements of animal feedingstuffs, which in peace time have been more cheaply imported from abroad. A considerable expenditure per acre will be needed. The Government recognise that farmers will require assistance towards the initial outlay involved in these operations and also an assurance that the returns from farming under wartime policy will be adequate to enable them to carry out their national task.
§ To assist farmers in the initial outlay it is proposed to extend to 31st March, 1940, the period within which grassland 1048 must be ploughed in order to be eligible for the grants of £2 an acre. It is also proposed to expedite the actual payments by arranging that they should be made as soon as the appropriate War Agricultural Executive Committee has certified that the land itself complies with the conditions laid down, that the ploughing has been efficiently done and that they will, in accordance with their powers and duties, ensure that the land will be properly cultivated and used.
§ It would not be possible or advisable to forecast definite figures at this stage for prices of wheat and other crops next year, but the Secretary of State for Scotland and I recognise the anxiety which is being felt by farmers throughout the country on this subject. I am authorised on behalf of the Government to state that it is their intention when the time comes to fix these prices to ensure to the farmers a reasonable return on crops harvested next year.
§ With regard to livestock, farmers will be guaranteed a market for cattle, sheep and pigs which will be bought by the Ministry of Food when food rationing commences. Cattle will be purchased at fixed prices on a scale varying according to the estimated killing out percentage. The initial rates have not yet been fixed, but provision will be made for a seasonal rise in the spring to cover the higher cost of winter feeding of animals in yards and adjustments will be made as and when necessary in the event of a substantial rise in the prices of feedingstuffs or other costs of production.
§ It is too early yet to frame a definite policy in respect of pigs, poultry or eggs, in view of the large amount of cereals required for these forms of production, a large proportion of which has in the past been imported, especially to meet the requirements of specialist producers. It will be the aim of the Government to maintain, and indeed to increase, our present production if this should prove possible, but we will have to be guided by facts. The position is being carefully watched and more exact guidance will be given as soon as possible.
§ To maintain or increase the production of cattle and sheep it will be necessary to increase the productivity of both good grassland and particularly the poor grassland, as well as to grow arable crops 10 take the place of imported feedingstuffs. 1049 It is clearly necessary, as an insurance against a reduction in imported supplies, to take all possible steps to increase home production of meat. Since no substantial increase in numbers of fat cattle can be expected within the next two or three years, the best means of achieving this end quickly is by an expansion of the sheep population, bearing in mind that sheep need not consume any appreciable quantity of imported feedingstuffs. I would, therefore, ask farmers to increase their flocks by retaining old ewes and ewe lambs for breeding this winter. Prices will be raised, when the Minister of Food takes full control, to an initial figure of 11d. per lb. dressed carcase weight for fat sheep to the end of December, and so as to give an average over the year of 1s. per lb., a figure which should also make it worth while to bring lambs to mutton weight and thus increase the weight of meat per animal.