HC Deb 02 July 1969 vol 786 cc405-6
6. Mr. J. E. B. Hill

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tillage acres are being left fallow this summer; how this compares with the trend in previous years; and to what extent over the last 12 months weather conditions have prevented crops being harvested or sown.

Mr. John Mackie

Information about the fallow acreage in England and Wales this year will not be available until the June census has been processed. In recent years fallow has been about 200,000 acres. It is expected to be appreciably higher this year. The higher fallow acreage and the reduced yield of crops last harvest are a measure of the poor weather conditions over the last twelve months.

Mr. Hill

Is it not the case that much of our land is in a worse physical state than ever previously recorded? Therefore, is it not essential that such things as drainage schemes and systems should be thoroughly and properly maintained? That being so, will the Minister consider the argument in the last Question, which is that it is vital that the Government should not discourage the maintenance of agricultural land and fixed equipment?

Mr. Mackie

We will certainly not discourage it by any manner of means, but it is not the case all over the country. I know that there are areas, of which the hon. Gentleman has knowledge, which are in bad condition, but I emphasise that that is not the case over the country as a whole.

Mr. Mackintosh

While I appreciate that the figures are not yet fully available, will my hon. Friend tell us whether the advice coming from the N.A.A.S. inspectors indicates that more ground is being ploughed up in accordance with his own programme, which, I think, aims at 1¼ million acres of cereals by the end of the period?

Mr. Mackie

We do not yet have the figures, and will not have them until we assess the June returns. We are now in process of doing that.