58. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the numerous cases throughout the country of delay in paying the £2 per acre ploughing-up grant, as a result of which and owing to shortage of cash, thousands of acres of land will not be seeded this year; 1528 and what action he proposes to take to remedy this?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithI am aware that there has been some delay in the payment of these grants, but arrears have now been overtaken and payment is being made within a few days of the receipt of the necessary certificates from the county war agricultural executive committees.
Mr. De la BèreIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that in many cases the grant for ploughing-up done last October has not been paid; and is he also aware that it costs £8 an acre or more to get this land into crops and that no seeding will be done unless these payments are made? It is only two miserable pounds, and they cannot get even that.
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithWe are overtaking the arrears now.
§ Mr. RidleySince grave anxiety has been caused to a large number of small farmers because of this matter, will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say how many days on the average elapse between the completion of ploughing-up and the payment of the grant?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithWhen we get the reports of the county executive committees payment goes out in a few days.
Mr. De la BèreIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that they have not yet caught up the arrears?