§ 58. Mr. Bossomasked the Minister of Agriculture when he is going to issue wrought iron or steel ploughshares instead of the present cast-iron ones; and, in the interval, what arrangements he has made for the cast-iron ones to be sharpened.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsI do not issue ploughshares. They are produced and distributed by the manufacturers. The majority of the shares for general purpose ploughs are made of cast iron, but most of those for heavy ploughs are made of steel and are much more costly than cast-iron shares. I would, however, be interested in any development in the manufacture of steel shares. Welding and other methods of renewing or prolonging the life of cast-iron shares are in use, and my Department and the Rural Industries Bureau will continue to encourage such work.
§ Mr. BossomWould the right hon. Gentleman do his utmost to see that there is a proper allocation of steel, because it is impossible to sharpen cast-iron ploughshares?
§ Mr. WilliamsI do not think it is a question of allocation of steel at the moment. We have been trying successfully to increase the number of ploughshares during the last few months.
§ Mr. BossomBut owing to the dry season we have had this year, ploughshares are breaking off like carrots the moment they are put into the ground.
§ Mr. WilliamsI am aware of the very dry season.
60. Lieut.-Colonel Geoffrey Clifton-Brownasked the Minister of Agriculture when the promised improvement in the production of ploughshares will allow for an adequate supply in the Eastern Counties.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsFairly soon, I hope, as production has already increased considerably.
Lieut.-Colonel Clifton-BrownDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that the winter is now nearly here, and that it will be quite impossible to get the land ploughed and sown unless he does something about shoes and shares at once?
§ Mr. WilliamsI can assure the hon. and gallant Member that active steps have been taken to increase the number of ploughshares. Production of the most important type, the Ransom type, has increased, between September and now, from 45 tons a week to 75 tons a week. At another place, a similar ploughshare is being produced, and the rate of production has risen from three or four tons a week to nine tons a week.
Lieut.-Colonel Clifton-BrownDoes "active consideration" mean what is happening in my area, where farmers have to queue for these implements? It is like getting hot cross buns.
§ Mr. WilliamsI do not produce ploughshares; they are produced by the manufacturers.
§ Major BruceIs the capacity of the industry sufficient to meet present requirements and, if not, what measures does my right hon. Friend propose to take to increase it?
§ Mr. WilliamsI think that existing factory capacity is capable of meeting normal requirements. This year, requirements have been abnormal.