§ 64. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture what action he is taking on the recommendation of his Agricultural Emergency Advisory Committee to overcome the handicap to full food production this season.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsSpecial measures have been taken to drain flooded land as early as possible, to feed evacuated livestock, and to mobilise cultivating machinery and implements. Various suggestions made by the Emergency Advisory Committee are under active examination, including the preparation of plans for alternative cropping, and I hope to make a further statement on the subject in the near future.
§ Mr. HurdCould the Minister tell us if his Advisory Committee has made any recommendations about the switching over of cropping? I am thinking particularly of the potato crop in large areas which have been flooded. Could they not be switched to some other county?
§ Mr. WilliamsYes, Sir. I think I referred in my reply to alternative cropping proposals, which are being carefully dealt with.
§ Mr. Godfrey NicholsonCould the Minister say whether alternative arrangements are being made? Would it not be of advantage to the farmer to know what sort of crops he was to switch over to? Surely, there should be no delay, because the time is running out?
§ Mr. WilliamsI can assure the hon. Member that a thoroughly expert committee has been working on this matter for several days past and that all forms of publicity will be utilised for the purpose 1664 of advising and guiding farmers, not only as to alternative cropping but alternative seeds and periods of time when they should be sown or set.
§ Mr. NicholsonI think the right hon. Gentleman misunderstood me. What I was suggesting was that the farmers should be told as soon as possible.
§ Major Legge-BourkeIs the Minister basing his assumptions on the statement of the representative from his Ministry in a broadcast last Friday, in which it was stated that the floods would be off the Fens in three weeks, and that, probably, they would be fit for crops three weeks after that?