45. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Prime Minister whether he will find time for the Motion standing in the name of the hon. Member for Evesham relating to agriculture?
§ [That this House notes the statement made by the Minister of Agriculture on the 29th June in connection with credits for farmers, made at the same time as his announcement of the new scale of agricultural prices; understands from the statement that he made on that date that the banking authorities had promised to 1337 help farmers needing assistance to pay increased wages until the time they received the benefit of the new price levels; emphasises the statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 2nd July that advances to agriculturists by the clearing banks amounted in the aggregate to about £53,000,000 in the middle of February, 1940; is disturbed to learn from many quarters that these advances are at the rate of five per cent.; notes that the creation of these moneys costs nothing to the banks, apart from the administration through their local branches, and that these advances have been in excess of £50,000,000 for the past five years, notwithstanding that for a greater part of this time the bank rate has stood at a figure of two per cent., and it is apparent that the clearing banks are, and have been for many years, exacting a toll of some £2,500,000 annually from the agriculturists of this country; is of opinion that, on examination, it becomes clearer that at least £1,500,000 of this £2,500,000, which is being charged, cannot be justified; urges on the Government the necessity of saving £1,500,000, which is being paid by the agriculturists to the banks, thus enabling the agriculturists to spend this money on proper hedging, ditching and fencing; notes that the Government's efforts at financial assistance in this direction have been wholly inadequate and deplores the continued technique of half-hearted half measures as a formal gesture; notes that the Minister's words express sympathy and understanding, but that the trend of their actions is otherwise and, recalling recent words uttered by a Minister that the cultivators of the land are the founders and sustainers of civilisation, is of opinion that unless these words are to be deemed meaningless the Ministers concerned will forfeit the confidence which they at present possess.]
§ Mr. AttleeNo, Sir. I can hold out no hope of a special opportunity being given for discussion of the Motion standing in the name of my hon. Friend.
Mr. De la BèreIs my right hon. Friend aware that the all-important point in this Motion is that the banks are still charging 5 per cent. to agricultural borrowers, and that they are not able to put forward any justification for this high rate of interest which they are charging?
§ Mr. AttleeThe point of the hon. Member's Question was to ask whether time could be given for the Motion.
Mr. De la BèreIs my right hon. Friend aware that he is Chairman of the Cabinet Committee dealing with agriculture, and is he also aware of how little he knows of what he ought to know?