LAND FERTILITY SCHEME.

HC Deb 09 February 1939 vol 343 cc1129-30W

Major Carver

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state the number of complaints which have been made to his Department regarding the difficulties in obtaining adequate quantities of lime and also the lime content of supplies furnished to buyers; and whether any remedial action is to be taken?

Sir R. Dorman-Smith

No complaints of difficulty in obtaining adequate supplies of lime have been received during the current season by my Department or by the Land Fertility Committee. Since the scheme came into operation some 140 cases have been brought to the notice of the committee where analyses under the Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Act, 1926, have shown that the calcium oxide content of samples of lime was less than that declared by the seller. In such cases the attention of the seller is drawn to the deficiency by the local authority concerned. In addition the committee have arranged for periodical inspections of the premises of all producers of lime approved under the scheme and for samples to be taken for analysis by the Government Chemist. In cases where analysis has

Sir S. Hoare

The particulars are as follows:

revealed serious deficiencies representations have been made to the suppliers concerned which have resulted in some instances in reductions of approved prices.

Major Carver

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that the recent reduced output of steel has produced a certain shortage in the supplies of basic slag, consideration can be given to extending the range of fertilisers which can be subsidised under the Government scheme?

Sir R. Dorman-Smith

I am aware that the position regarding supplies of basic slag is as stated by my hon. and gallant Friend. I am hopeful, however, that more basic slag may become available as a result of the anticipated increase of the output of steel. As regards extension of the Land Fertility Scheme I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the replies given by my predecessor on 5th December to questions on the subject by my hon. Friend the Member for Tonbridge (Sir A. Baillie) and my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Chatham (Captain Plugge).