§
Motion made and Question proposed
That a Supplementary sum, not exceeding £10, be granted to Her Majesty, to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1959, by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, for grants, grants in aid and expenses in connection with agricultural and food services; including land drainage and rehabilitation of land damaged by flood and tempest; purchase, development and management of land, including land settlement and provision of smallholdings; services in connection with livestock, and compensation for slaughter of diseased animals; provision and operation of machinery; training and supplementary labour schemes; control of pests; education, research and advisory services; marketing; agricultural credits; certain trading services; subscriptions to international organisations; and sundry other services including certain expenses in connection with civil defence.
§ 9.22 p.m.
§ Mr. Frederick Peart (Workington)I thank the Minister for his courtesy in offering to give me further details later in answer to my questions on the previous Motion.
The land drainage grants are very important, especially in view of the heavy flooding last year. In many parts of the country, I understand, there is still a serious problem of heavy silting in our ditches and our main rivers, particularly in such areas as Anglesey, where it has given rise to liver fluke disease, a problem which affects the sheep flocks. I should like the Minister to be liberal in his interpretation of land drainage grants, because much of the main capital work done just after the war by prisoner-of-war and ex-prisoner-of-war labour has not been satisfactory. I hope that he will look at this again.
Under Subhead D 6, "Pig Progeny Testing Stations—Capital expenditure," does the Minister intend to encourage the creation of another pig progeny testing station? Five are in existence, four in England and Wales and one in Scotland. Has he been in touch with the National Pig Progeny Testing Board and the Pig Industry Development Authority? Has there been any delay in the work? Why this Vote?
1571 My last question concerns the grants for local authorities in respect of rodent control. Since the county executive committees no longer have direct responsibility and the original administration has been wound up, and since the farming community now has to rely on private contractors, I should like to know whether there have been any complaints from the farming community on the efficiency of the existing scheme or about increased costs. Are the present arrangements for rodent control satisfactory? Why is there an extra grant to local authorities? I know that they still have a statutory obligation. Is the increased Estimate due to increased costs for the service which has been handed over to private contractors? Rodent control is a vital service not only to the farmer but also to the community.
§ 9.24 p.m.
§ The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. John Hare)The hon. Member has put a series of questions in rapid, streamlined form to which I should like to give serious consideration. I will give him detailed answers at an early date. For reasons which he knows, it is impossible for me to attempt at the moment to give detailed explanations of the many questions which he has put to me.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§
Resolved,
That a Supplementary sum, not exceeding £10, be granted to Her Majesty, to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1959, by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, for grants, grants in aid and expenses in connection with agricultural and food services; including land drainage and rehabilitation of land damaged by flood and tempest; purchase, development and management of land, including land settlement and provision of smallholdings; services in connection with livestock, and compensation for slaughter of diseased animals; provision and operation of machinery; training and supplementary labour schemes; control of pests; education, research and advisory services; marketing; agricultural credits; certain trading services; subscriptions to international organisations; and sundry other services including certain expenses in connection with civil defence.