HC Deb 08 July 1954 vol 529 c186W
90. Mr. Hurd

asked the Minister of Agriculture what estimate he has made, based on the 1954 machinery census, of the annual rate of investment in mechanical equipment on British farms.

Sir T. Dugdale

The machinery census does not of itself afford an estimate of annual investment. Other information suggests that current purchases by farmers in the United Kingdom are running at an annual rate between £45 and £50 million. Although the greater part of this is for the replacement of old machines, there appears to be some net increase.