53. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the early cessation of supplies of agricultural machinery under Lend-Lease from America and the difficulties of ordinary purchase, owing to the dollar exchange, of American agricultural machinery, what encouragement is being given to British manufacturers for an increased production of ploughs, tractors, harvesters and seed drills.
Mr. HudsonI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a similar question by my hon. Friend the Member for East Fulham (Mr. Astor) on 29th March.
Mr. De la BèreIs my right hon. Friend aware that that reply did not go nearly far enough, that the matter is very pressing, and that, unless further machinery is available, we shall not get the food we so urgently require?