§ Mr. Ivor Guestasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is satisfied that under the scheme for supplying lime and basic slag to farmers at reduced prices, equal advantage is given to the farmer at a long distance from the source of supply as to the farmer in the vicinity of such source; and, if not, whether he will consider the evolution of a scheme under which part or all of the transport cost is borne by the State?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonThe answer is in the affirmative. As my hon. Friend will see from Statutory Rules and Orders, 1937, No. 872, expenditure on transporting lime and basic slag to agricultural land is eligible for contribution under the Land Fertility Scheme
Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture what steps the Government are taking to secure adequate supplies of the right grade of basic slag to meet the farmers' requirements, in view of the 1860W failure of many suppliers to meet the demands throughout the country and the offering of inferior and unsuitable grades?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Penrith and Cockermouth (Captain Dower) on 28th October. The Land Fertility Committee have since issued a statement on the supply position as regards both lime and basic slag, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. I have no reason to believe that the proportion of basic slag of low phosphoric acid content or low citric solubility used by farmers is larger than it was before the scheme came into operation.