§ Colonel ASHLEYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that at a recent meeting of the county executive of the Lancashire branch of the National Farmers' Union strong protests were made against the Wart Disease in Potatoes Order; and whether he will institute an inquiry into the whole question raised by this Order at an early date?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe Board are aware that protests have been made in certain quarters against the Wart Disease of Potatoes Order. The Order was made, after the most careful investigation by the Board's technical staff into the nature of the disease, with the object of safeguarding potato growers generally by the growth of immune varieties on those tracts of land on which the disease is known to be widespread. The Board have constantly under their consideration the operation of the Order, and they are encouraging by every means further investigations into the possibility of destroying the disease in the soil. In these circumstances, they do not consider that any useful purpose would be served by a public inquiry.