48. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in connection with the statement in the agricultural survey to the effect that there was 2 per cent. less land under cultivation at a period some three years after the commencement of hostilities than was under cultivation before that period, he can state the approximate number of acres represented by this 2 per cent.?
§ The Minister of Agriculture (Mr. R. S. Hudson)I am not prepared to amplify the statistical information issued recently by my Department with reference to wartime agriculture in the direction requested by my hon. Friend.
Mr. De la BèreDoes my right hon. Friend not think it desirable that the public should know just how much less land is under cultivation? Does not the ordinary man in the street think that a greater amount of land has been ploughed up than is actually under cultivation? Will he do something about it? It is a very important matter indeed. Could I have an answer?
§ Mr. PriceHas the reduction in food production caused by this decrease in the amount of land under cultivation been made good by an increase in the amount of production per acre of cultivated land?
§ Mr. HudsonThe fact that food production is estimated to be 70 per cent. greater than pre-war shows that we have done a great deal more than make good the loss.
Mr. De la BèreIn view of that monstrous evasion, I shall raise the matter at the earliest opportunity.