§ 13. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will publish figures showing the number of farmers who have gone bankrupt during the past four years.
§ Mr. NugentMy right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade informs me that the figures for England and Wales were 101, 122, 146 and 121 in the years 1951 to 1954, respectively.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs the hon. Gentleman aware that, according to a paragraph which appeared in the "Farmer and Stockbreeder" on 18th January last, complaints were made, or doubts expressed, about the substantial increase in the number of bankruptcies in the farming community? Does not that indicate that something has gone wrong with the agricultural industry generally since the present Government took office?
§ Mr. NugentNo, Sir. I do not think that these figures carry any such implication.