§ Mr. Liddallasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will reconsider the national policy governing the cultivation in Britain of tobacco, with a view to it being grown here in considerable volume on suitable land, either privately-owned or on Government land if essential for the collection of duties; and will he include tobacco cultivation in the post-war rehabilitation of agriculture, consonantly with the sugar-beet policy, so as to replace imports by home production and increase rural employment?
Mr. HudsonNo, Sir. In present circumstances, land on which tobacco might to grown can be more usefully employed in growing food crops. Experience obtained since the last war does not afford sufficient ground for the inclusion of tobacco growing in any post-war plan for agriculture.