§ 5. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister for Agriculture if he has considered a horticultural questionnaire which has been sent out by the National Farmers' Union, of which a copy has been sent 2322 to him; to what extent this is being done at his request; and what use is made by his Department of the results of this inquiry.
§ Sir T. DugdaleI have seen a copy of this questionnaire. It was not sent out at my request but any material made available by the National Fanners' Union from the results of their experiences will be studied by my Department.
§ Sir W. SmithersWill my right hon. Friend, as a Conservative Minister, make a public statement advising farmers to ignore this form of probing into their private affairs? Is the information so secured used by the county executive committees for the purpose of dispossessing farmers, and are the farmers victimised if they refuse to fill up the form? As a Conservative Minister, will my right hon. Friend denounce these Gestapo methods?
§ Sir T. DugdaleThis has nothing whatever to do with the Government or the county committees. It is the farmers' own organisation who send out a questionnaire to farmers asking for certain statistical facts, in order to help them to have an appreciation of the conditions of the horticultural industry.