48. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will indicate the source from which the new capital for farming development will be made available to farmers for development in the years immediately following the conclusion of hostilities; and whether he will give an assurance that the necessary capital required will be forthcoming.
Mr. HudsonI would refer my hon. Friend to Clause 2 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which provides for credit facilities to agriculture at a favourable rate of interest for capital development through the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation and the Scottish Agricultural Securities Corporation on the security of agricultural land. For short-term credit, farmers should be able to rely mainly on the banks.
Mr. De la BèreHas the right hon. Gentleman any estimate or calculation of the amount of capital required for farming development per acre after the war? Has he gone into this matter very thoroughly? I am really not satisfied with the answer, and I hope to have an opportunity to express myself most vigorously.