49. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can now make some statement as to the working of the Agricultural Requisites Scheme throughout the country?
§ The Minister of Agriculture (Mr. R. S. Hudson)Up to 11th February, 1941, a period of approximately 11 months since the inception of the scheme, requisites to the value of about £130,000 have been supplied to approximately 1,200 farmers. 1521 These figures do not include certain recent applications which have been approved direct by county war agricultural executive committees and not yet been notified to my Department. The number of applications has become greater in recent months, and it is clear that farmers are making increasing use of the scheme. Many instances have come to my notice in which food production has been materially increased as a result of the assistance given in 1940.
Mr. De la BèreWhile welcoming what my right hon. Friend has said, may I ask whether he will endeavour to make the information more widely known that these requisites are available? I am aware that the information has been published, but some farmers still seem ignorant of the fact that they can obtain facilities under this scheme.
§ Mr. HudsonI am much obliged to my hon. Friend. I hope to do everything possible to help in the direction he indicates. I have been pressing upon farmers to realise that there is no stigma attaching to applications made for assistance under the requisites scheme. It is placed at the disposal of farmers in order to carry out our policy of increasing food supplies, and farmers therefore ought to apply to the committees for requisites.