§ Mr. Emeryasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that parts of Ashdown Forest, in Sussex, afford a considerable acreage of gorse and heather-land suitable for potato growing and grazing, if cleared, and other land, if ploughed up, for pig production; and will he use his powers to have these areas prepared in advance for the production of food on and near the gorse and heather-land and turf of the Ashdown Forest golf courses?
Mr. HudsonI have made inquiries and find that the land in question is some of the poorest in Sussex, that it is seriously deficient in lime and essential plant foods, and that attempts made during the last war to cultivate parts of it were unsuccessful. A good deal of reclamation work would be necessary, and it is unlikely that a crop would be obtained next year. In these circumstances it is very doubtful if it would be wise to utilise, for the reclamation of this land, the necessary labour and fertilisers, which can be used1004W to greater advantage on land which is likely to yield better crops at an earlier date.