§ 51. Mr. Odeyasked the Minister of Agriculture why he has not entrusted the cultivation of Holme Moor R.A.F. to Mr. Loftus, a competent farmer who has all along been the tenant of the Church Commissioners.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsThe East Riding Agricultural Executive Committee, as my agents, were directly responsible for arranging for the cultivation of this airfield to secure maximum food production. They decided, after full consideration of all the circumstances, that the best course was for them to cultivate the land themselves, and I am satisfied that they were justified in so deciding.
§ Mr. OdeyWhat conceivable grounds can there be for depriving a competent farmer of his land and of part of his livelihood?
§ Mr. WilliamsAgain I do not accept the assumption behind the hon. Gentleman's question. The farmer's livelihood has not been endangered by the R.A.F. taking over this area of land. Now that a portion of it is available temporarily, the county executive committee thought that they were the best body to ensure that the maximum use for food production would be made of it.
§ Mr. OdeyHow can that possibly be so in view of the fact that some 200 acres 1432 of land were requisitioned to form this aerodrome and that the land had been cultivated by Mr. Loftus who is a tenant of the Church Commissioners?
§ Mr. WilliamsThat is true, but my reports are not to the effect that the land was cultivated as land ought to be cultivated in 1948.