HC Deb 14 October 1915 vol 74 cc1508-10W
Mr. PERKINS

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if, having regard to the official statement of the Board of Agriculture respecting the 50,000 decrease in the number of cows now kept, as compared with the year 1913, and having regard to the fact that there are now 1,300,000 acres of land less under the plough than in the year 1895, and taking into consideration the recommendation of the official Committee on the Home Production of Food, that the only method of effecting a substantial increase in the gross production of food consists in restoring to arable cultivation some of the poorer grass land laid down since the seventies, the Board will recommend to landowners a relaxation for the period of the War of the covenants between landlords and farmers which prohibit the restoration to arable cultivation of some of the poorer grass lands?

Mr. ACLAND

Landlords are showing every desire to further the scheme inaugurated by the President of the Board for increasing the production of food in this country, and there is no reason to suppose that they will decline to relax restrictive covenants in cases where it is shown that it would be to the interest of the State to do so. But if the hon. Member is aware of any cases where the contrary is taking place, I shall be glad to have my attention drawn to them.