§ Colonel Carverasked the Minister of Agriculture the number of cases, since September last, in which requests by the various county war executive committees to plough land have been refused; and what action has been taken in such cases?
Mr. HudsonThere have been 351 cases where executive committees have applied for my consent to proceedings being taken against occupiers of land who have failed to comply with directions given to them under Defence Regulation 62. In 173 cases prosecution has taken place and in 165 of these convictions were obtained and fines to the total amount of £3,384 were imposed together with costs amounting to £399. With few exceptions the directions related to the ploughing of grassland.