§ 56. Mr. Randallasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that, arising from the announced 4o per cent. cut in feedingstuffs, a cross section of farms on second-rate land, where the first half-gallon was waived, has been taken and produced an estimate that whereas last winter a farmer was eligible for 1,570 28 units, next winter only 305 will be drawn; and, in view of these figures, if he will consider reviewing the allocation of units as a matter of urgency.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsI have not seen the estimate referred to. If my hon. Friend will let me have particulars I will write to him.
§ 57. Mr. Randallasked the Minister of Agriculture if, in order to build up protein and cereal units for county reserves and for producers on second-rate land, he will give consideration to a scheme for next winter, whereby farmers on first-rate land shall only receive units up to requirements of sufficiency, or, alternatively, to raise the gallonage after maintenance.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsThe ability of a dairy farmer to become more self-sufficient in feedingstuffs depends on a number of factors, of which the quality of the land is only one, and it would be administratively impracticable and probably unfair to operate a rationing scheme which was based only on the quality of land. If, however, my hon. Friend has any concrete proposals in mind and would let me have particulars, I should be happy to consider them.