HC Deb 26 January 1948 vol 446 cc657-8
59. Mr. De la Bère

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will make a further statement of how the Government propose to tackle the problem of the large areas of potentially productive land still derelict and the many thousands of acres not producing maximum crops.

Mr. T. Williams

I have written to the chairman of the county agricultural executive committees and broadcast to farmers, to the effect that everything possible should be done to promote or step up production from such land without risking a diminution in total production by directing resources to less productive land when they might be used to increase output from better land.

Mr. De la Bère

Are we to understand that the Government are at last doing one thing to help agriculture, even if it is only one: it is very, very poor?

Mr. Baldwin

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider taking in hand all the common land at present lying derelict in this country, and which is producing nothing whatever?

Mr. Williams

There are facilities for that, and we are trying to make the greatest use of the land.