HC Deb 01 August 1940 vol 363 cc1379-81
23. Mr. Vernon Bartlett

asked the Home Secretary whether he will make it compulsory for all owners of large fields or open spaces to construct obstacles which would prevent landings by enemy aircraft?

Sir J. Anderson

Perhaps my hon. Friend will be good enough to await the statement which my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal will be making later this afternoon in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for the Isle of Fly (Mr. de Rothschild).

46. Mr. de Rothschild

asked the Prime Minister who is responsible for carrying out measures to render agricultural land proof against landing by enemy aircraft; whether it is the War Office, the Air Ministry, the rural district council, the parish council, or whether it is left to members of the Home Guard; and what steps are being taken by whichever authority is responsible to consult with the Ministry of Agriculture on this matter, in order to ensure that measures are taken which are not likely to impair the productivity of the land, as in many districts agricultural land has already had its food-producing potentialities seriously reduced as a result of the ill-advised methods of protection which have been adopted?

The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Attlee)

The position has been reviewed, and for the future the ultimate responsibility for the obstruction of possible enemy landing grounds will be divided between the Army and the Royal Air Force. Each of these authorities has its sphere of action clearly defined. The work will, so far as possible, be carried out by the Army and the Royal Air Force authorities themselves, or by contractors working under their direction. Should they require any addition to their labour force, it would be supplied either by voluntary labour or by paid labour, both of which would be under the auspices of the local authority; but the planning of the work would be under the general direction of the Service authorities. I wish to make it clear that civilian authorities will not undertake any works of obstruction which are not covered by the particular or general instructions of the Service authorities. A strict instruction to consult with the County War Agricultural Executive Committees has been issued, and it has been impressed upon those responsible that, subject to overriding military necessity, fullest consideration must be given for the preservation of our agriculture.

Mr. Granville

Will the individual farmers have an opportunity of giving their advice as to where obstacles should be put in their fields, particularly during the harvest season?

Mr. A. Bevan

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that all over the country farmers have almost entirely ignored the instructions—

Mrs. Tate

That is absolutely untrue.

Mr. Bevan

—and that it is only necessary to go on a short car journey, or to look out of any railway compartment window, to see fields in which there are no obstructions?

Mr. de Rothschild

Will the Lord Privy Seal institute an arrangement whereby the Ministry of Agriculture will be represented by a person who will go round the fields and see that agriculture is respected, and that the productivity of the land is not in any way reduced; and is he aware that the agricultural committees as at present constituted are composed of farmers who have no authority in relation to the military and air authorities; and is it not essential that a representative of the Ministry of Agriculture should be consulted?

Mr. Attlee

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put that point to the Service Ministries concerned. The arrangement at present is that the orders of the military authorities must be paramount in matters of defence, but they are instructed to consult with the local agricultural committees. I cannot think that it would be possible to have a representative of the Ministry of Agriculture dealing with individual cases all over the country.

Sir Joseph Lamb

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that large numbers of farmers have been visited by inspectors and forced by them to take their men from the work of cultivation to erect the obstacles, and to whom are they to apply for compensation?

Mr. Attlee

I would ask the hon. Member to put that Question on the Order Paper.