HC Deb 25 November 1952 vol 508 cc19-20W
12. Mr. M. MacPherson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for improving the proportion of farmers who can farm their holdings efficiently.

Mr. Snadden

The three agricultural colleges in Scotland provide a highly efficient advisory service free of charge, to any farmer who feels in need of advice on his farming problems. We hope to raise the general standard of farming efficiency by means of this advisory service, and the various forms of assistance that are given to farmers by way of State grants. The dispossession, in the last resort, of the persistently bad farmer will also help to achieve this aim.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give further details of the warning notices that are to be served on inefficient farmers in Scotland.

Mr. J. Stuart

A warning notice served on an inefficient farmer in accordance with the provisions of section 27 of the Agricultural (Scotland) Act, 1948, specifies in detail the grounds on which he is not fulfilling his responsibilities to farm the holding in accordance with the rules of good husbandry as laid down in Sixth Schedule to the Act.