§ 59. Mr. Granvilleasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that numbers of small arable farmers in East Anglia are without sufficient liquid capital to enable them to assist fully the war effort for increased food production; and will he therefore consider introducing interest-free loans against crop value, in view of the fact that these producers are unable to obtain further accommodation at the joint stock banks?
Mr. HudsonI am aware that in a certain number of cases farmers are short of capital. The Agricultural Requisites Assistance Scheme was introduced in order to meet the needs of such farmers, who can obtain assistance from the county war agricultural executive committees both under this scheme and in other ways.
§ Mr. GranvilleDoes my right hon. Friend realise that these small farmers are at the present time mortgaged to the banks and that the facilities he is offering at the present time do not help their problem, and will he give the House an assurance that they will not be turned off their farms through lack of capital?
Mr. HudsonI am not satisfied that the means at the disposal of county executive committees to help these men have been utilised.
Mr. De la BèreCannot we have an end put to this great pretence? Nothing is being done, and my right hon. Friend only sits there and laughs.