§ 31. Sir T. Mooreasked the Minister of Agriculture when he proposes to terminate the functions of the county agricultural committees.
§ Mr. Nugent1 would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) on 19th November.
§ Sir T. MooreAs a farmer himself, does not my hon. Friend realise that there is a wide measure of opinion, particularly among farmers, which feels that these war-time organisations are no longer welcome, and will he at any rate set a time limit to their life?
§ Mr. NugentNo, Sir. My right hon. Friend has already expressed his view on this matter, which is that these county committees are doing a most valuable job and should be allowed to continue to do it.
§ 43. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Agriculture, in view of the fact that the deficit on lands in possession account and on land farmed by committees account was £58,297 in 1951–52, what steps he is taking to prevent this loss in future years.
§ Mr. NugentThe area of land in possession of county agricultural executive committees has been greatly reduced since 1951–52. When the trading accounts for 1952–53 are published, they will show a much smaller deficit than in 1951–52, and in the future there should be no loss at all.
§ Sir W. SmithersWill the Parliamentary Secretary explain why my right hon. Friend has the shameful audacity to dispossess farmers when his organisation is losing the taxpayers' money? Will he cease forthwith using Iron Curtain methods with which to dispossess farmers in a once free country?