§ Sir G. Jeffreysasked the Minister of Agriculture, in view of the coming termination of the ploughing-up effort in the country, what steps are proposed to improve the crop-bearing quality of the land which has been ploughed up; and, especially, what steps are proposed to eradicate weeds more effectively than is at present the case?
Mr. HudsonIt is the task of county war agricultural executive committees, by the giving of technical advice, by the provision if necessary of financial assistance, by facilitating the supply of fertilisers and other requirements, by the promotion of schemes of land drainage, and, if need be, by the exercise of their power to give directions to occupiers of land under Defence Regulation 62, to bring about the utmost possible improvement in the standard of fanning in their respective counties. The eradication of weeds is one of the matters which can be dealt with, if necessary, by the giving of directions. I should perhaps add that the increased ploughing up tables assigned to the various counties for the 1942 harvest have not been withdrawn as the hon. and gallant Member's Question might be taken to suggest.