§ Sir R. Glynasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state the acreage in the United Kingdom, exclusive of Northern Ireland, that was under flax cultivation in the years 1916, 1917, and 1918; in which counties was it found suitable to grow this crop; how many flax mills were then in use; and how many are there in working condition to-day?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThe acreages returned as under flax (for fibre or linseed) in Great Britain in 1916, 1917 and 1918 were respectively 928, 2,516 and 19,742. The crop was grown in 1918 to some extent, in almost all counties of England and Wales, but the largest acreages were to be found in the counties of Essex, Somerset, the East and West Ridings of Yorkshire, West Suffolk, Dorset and Fife, which together accounted for 60 per cent. of the total acreage under flax in Great Britain. So far as I am able to ascertain there were no mills in use in 1916 and 1917 and 13 mills in use for dealing with the 1918 crop. At the present time three mills are in operation.
§ Sir R. Glynasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will now make public the main features of the report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on the Supply of Flax if farmers are to be encouraged to plant this spring; what quantity of treated seed is available so that effective measures may be taken to improve the industry in the shortest possible time; and whether it is proposed to consult with the National Farmers' Union executive so that the requirements of the Government may be communicated to those county branches where experience has shown flax can be grown?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonThe committee referred to by my hon. Friend was a 2473W sub-committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence and it would be contrary to accepted practice to publish its report. As regards the remainder of the question, though the Government would of course on general grounds welcome an extension of the area under flax, their view has been that, having regard to the extent to which substitution for flax products is possible, the defence interest in flax growing is not sufficient to necessi- 2474W tate any special action on defence grounds, over and above arrangements which have been made for continuance of work at the Norfolk experimental and research station and arrangements to establish suitability for service purposes of unretted flax. The matter is, however, at present under further consideration. I regret that I have no information as to the quantity of seed of the kind referred to available in the United Kingdom.