§ Mr. J. Morganasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that many farmers are still under the impression that individual farmers are only expected to plough up 10 per cent. of their present grassland, even in cases where very substantial areas of suitable grassland are available; and will he make a further precise statement on this point?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithIn the broadcast appeal which I made at the outbreak of war, farmers were urged to plough up at least 10 per cent. of their grassland for the production of arable crops next year. This was the immediate task until the County War Agricultural Executive Committees, to whom the necessary powers had been delegated, were in a position to decide1076W precisely how much grassland each farmer could reasonably be expected to break up, but it was, and is, not intended that the maximum area to be ploughed up on each individual farm should be fixed at 10 per cent.
Tillage is, in general, more productive than grassland, and the objective is to secure as large an arable area as possible for the harvest of 1940.