§ 48. Major Carverasked the Minister of Agriculture what capital sums have been made available for agricultural development work, since the outbreak of war, through the various schemes for supplying capital to farmers at low rates of interest?
Mr. HudsonI am not sure what my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind in speaking of agricultural development work, but if he is thinking of permanent or semi-permanent land improvements the answer is that State assistance has been given by way of grants for ploughing up, drainage, and lime and slag, and not by way of capital loans. I have no information as to the total capital which may have been provided from private sources since the outbreak of war. If my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind the supply of requisites under the Agricultural Requisites Assistance Scheme, I would refer him to the reply given on 23rd May to the hon. Member for North Cumberland (Mr. W. Roberts).