§ 52. Wing-Commander Jamesasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in framing the policy of ploughing-up additional grassland for the current ploughing season, he sought the opinion of any of the county war agricultural committees; and how many of these advised him that the programme now being enforced was beyond the resources of the farming community to cultivate properly?
Mr. HudsonIn April last I invited those executive committees who had expressed a wish for a provisional ploughing task to supply preliminary estimates to me. It was after consideration of these estimates and of the full information which I obtained from my liaison officers and Land Commissioners that I suggested to each committee a figure at which they should aim for the 1942 harvest. The carrying-out of the task will obviously depend on the supply of labour, machinery and fertilisers available, and there is no intention of enforcing a programme which is beyond the resources of the farming community.
§ Wing-Commander JamesMay we take it that if local circumstances, such as seasonal conditions or scarcity of labour, make it impracticable to plough up the land and carry out the programme fully, there will be a modification of the orders already made?
Mr. HudsonI have already said that the carrying-out of the task will depend upon the supply of labour, machinery and fertilisers available, and I have no intention of enforcing a programme which cannot be carried out.
§ Mr. HiggsCan the right hon. Gentleman say what penalty there is against 1125 men who, when they have been ordered to plough up a field, do not carry out the cultivation at the proper time?