49. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in order to increase the confidence of farmers throughout the country, he will take steps, before the end of 1941, to announce the broad outlines of a long-term policy for agriculture, extending for a period of five years after the cessation of hostilities, especially having regard to the stimulus 299 that such an announcement would give to war-time effort and enterprise, bearing in mind the necessity of a reasonable guarantee as a solution to the many problems?
Mr. HudsonIn the reply I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham and Worthing (Earl Winterton) on 26th November, 1940, I stated that the Government recognised the importance of maintaining after the war a healthy and well-balanced agriculture as an essential and permanent feature of national policy, and that the present system of fixed prices and an assured market would be maintained for at least one year after the end of hostilities so as to ensure stability for a length of time sufficient to put into action a permanent post-war policy for home agriculture. The broad lines of such a policy are under consideration, but I can hold out no hope that a further statement will be possible before the end of this year.
Mr. De la BèreWill my right hon. Friend tackle the root causes of the problems that led to the slump in agriculture prior to the outbreak of the war? Is he not aware that problems not tackled at their roots beget other problems and that our course then becomes encumbered with futile efforts to deal with these other problems?