§ 58 Sir J. Lambasked the Minister of Agriculture whether it is proposed to continue payment under the Agriculture Act, 1937, of contributions towards the cost of lime and basic slag after 31st July next?
Mr. HudsonThe Government have decided not to extend the Land Fertility Scheme in its present form after 31st July next, and the Land Fertility Scheme will cease to operate after that date. Payments to farmers in respect of basic slag will be discontinued entirely and the money which would have been expended on these during the next 12 months will be used to decrease the price of other phosphatic fertilisers The object of this is to facilitate the reorganisation of distributive arrangements and to economise transport. It has been decided to continue subsidy payments on lime until the end of July, 1944, but as the administration of this subsidy will be closely linked up with developments on the supply side, the responsibility for it will in future devolve directly on the agricultural Departments. I am glad to be able to take this opportunity of expressing the thanks of the Government to the members of the Land Fertility Committee for the valuable work they have done in connection with the scheme since 1937
§ Sir J. LambWill there be adequate supplies of basic slag and lime?
Mr. HudsonI hope there will be largely increased supplies of lime and substantially increased supplies of phosphatic fertilisers generally, although I cannot say anything about basic slag specifically.