§ Mr. NEVILLEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he has received information showing that the smaller farmers are forced to sell immature or breeding stock by reason of the rate of interest demanded by the banks for temporary accommodation being seldom not less than 1 per cent. above bank rate; and whether he has considered the feasibility of giving relief to agricultural credit, and thus obviating the depletion of our live stock, by establishing institutions for giving credit somewhat on the lines followed by the Danish agricultural and land banks?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The establishment of a wholly satisfactory system of agricultural credit has proved very difficult in this country, and it is not easy to follow any foreign model or method. The Board of Agriculture has been in close touch with the Agricultural Organisation Society for some time on the subject, and that society is working on lines which seem to be most likely to achieve good results, and considering the present rate of national expenditure I am afraid that it would not be possible to 947W expect that the Chancellor of the Exchequer could supply the funds for any large scheme of State assistance.