§ 49. Major Petherickasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now able to make any statement as to the assistance to be given to flower growers to enable them to change over to food production?
Mr. HudsonYes, Sir. In order to assist the smaller flower growers to meet the expense of converting their land to food production the Government have decided, as a special measure, in view of the exceptional conditions, to make a payment at the rate of £20 an acre in respect of land freed from flower crops (including flower bulbs) since 4th June, 1942, and 613 subsequently planted to a food crop. The acreage under flowers on 4th June, 1942, will be taken as the actual acreage returned by the occupier of the holding or 50 per cent. of the 1939 acreage if this is less. The payment will be made only in respect of holdings where there were not more than 10 acres under flowers prior to the war and on which the growing of flowers for sale comprised the major part of the business of the holding. Full particulars of the scheme and forms of application for the grant will be available shortly at the offices of county war agricultural executive committees.