Colonel FABERasked how many ploughs have been supplied by the Government and how many acres have been ploughed, also at what cost this has been achieved; and whether his Department commandeered agricultural machinery from dealers and then left the machinery for weeks in the dealers' hands?
§ Mr. PROTHEROThe total number of tractor ploughs supplied by the Government to agricultural executive committees in England and Wales up to 1st November was 1,618, of which about 1,000 have been supplied since 1st July. The total area ploughed by these tractors up to 1st November is estimated at about 200,000 acres. For further details I might refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for South Molton on 1st November. The cost of operating tractors varies considerably according to weather, the nature of the land, the skill of the driver, and the types of tractors employed. The scheme, which was put into operation last spring, continued up to August, and during this period the average gross expenditure throughout England and Wales on the running expenses of tractors (including work on the land, travelling from farm to farm, labour, repairs and maintenance) amounted to 28s. 6d. per acre. Since August a revised scheme has been brought into operation, and, while it is known that the average cost has been reduced, no detailed figures for the whole country are yet available. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative. The Department has no power to commandeer any machinery in the hands of manufacturers or dealers.
§ Major LANE-FOXasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he will state how many tractors are being employed in 400W ploughing out grass by his food production department; how many acres they have ploughed; and what is the estimated cost of the operation?
§ Mr. PROTHEROThe total number of tractor ploughs supplied by the Government to agricultural executive committees in England and Wales up to 1st November was 1,618, of which about 1,000 have been supplied since 1st July.
The total area ploughed by these tractors up to 1st November is estimated at about 200,000 acres. For further details I might refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for South Molton on 1st November.
The cost of operating tractors varies considerably, according to weather, the nature of the land, the skill of the driver, and the types of tractors employed. The scheme, which was put into operation last spring, continued up to August, and during this period the average gross expenditure throughout England and Wales on the running expenses of tractors (including work on the land, travelling from farm to farm, labour, repairs, and maintenance) amounted to 28s. 6d. per acre. Since August a revised scheme has been brought into operation, and, while it is known that the average cost has been reduced, no detailed figures for the whole country are yet available.
My hon. and gallant Friend may be interested to know -that the latest returns from the West Riding show that the tractors there averaged 17.9 acres apiece for the week ending 20th October, and that the record for the whole country was achieved by one of these tractors, manned by soldier ploughmen, which, under exceptionally favourable conditions, ploughed 40 acres of warp land in six days of ten hours each.