asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state what acreage of grassland was scheduled to be ploughed up in Gloucestershire under the £2-an-acre scheme; and how many acres have actually been ploughed?

For the reasons I gave in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Evesham (Mr. De la Bère) yesterday, I do not think that it would be in the interests of the food production campaign to publish the information asked for at this stage, but I can assure the hon. Member that very satisfactory progress indeed has been made in Gloucestershire.

May I ask the Minister whether he is aware that this information is obtainable in the local Press of the counties concerned?

asked the Minister of Agriculture at what date tractors will be available for use in the Rawreth area of Essex?

:So far as I am aware agricultural tractors available in the Rawreth area of Essex are sufficient to meet the needs of the district and no report of any deficiency has been brought to my notice.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that a large area is waiting to be ploughed up and that they are waiting for tractors but cannot get them?

Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will give me some particulars.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the cost of raising, training and equipping the Women's Land Army; whether their work on the land is a success and acceptable to farmers; and is he satisfied that this organisation is efficient and economical?

As the answer is long and contains a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can my right hon. Friend answer verbally the last part of the Question?

Yes, Sir. I am satisfied that this organisation is efficient and economical.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, as any substantial increase in the number of horses available for transport in the near future in this country would involve importation of horses, and as the expansion of agriculture now proceeding is likely to cause a demand for an increased number of horses for transport purposes for many years to come, he will reinstate the system of grants to encourage horse breeding?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given to him on 14th March, to which I have nothing to add.

In view of the fact that it has been just announced that the French Government are subsidising horse-breeding and stud farms, thus reversing the policy of the last war, would not the Minister also be strong-minded and reverse his decision, as the amount is only £8,000?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, before coming to a decision about the support to be given by his Department for the breeding of horses for use in agriculture, he will set up an expert inquiry into the relative costs of horse and mechanical transport for various agricultural operations and into the relative merits of such transport from a national point of view, taking into account that mechanical transport requires the import both of fuel and of materials for the manufacture of the vehicle whereas horses are reproductive, consume home-produced fodder, and also provide useful by-products?

No, Sir. The question has already been fully considered, and although I appreciate the value of horses for agricultural work, I have reached the conclusion that, in present conditions, we must rely almost entirely upon the use of mechanical power in our campaign to bring about the desired increase in food production. As was explained to my hon. and gallant Friend in reply to his Question on 14th March on the subject, breeding in this and subsequent seasons is not likely to have any effect upon supplies of agricultural horses for some time to come.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the reluctance of tenant farmers to go in for whole-hearted and large-scale improvements that the war demands, in order to secure the maximum output from the farms, he will introduce legislation to safeguard tenant farmers by giving them security of tenure, conditional upon their effective farming, such security of tenure being for the duration of the war and five years afterwards?

In my view the existing provisions of the Agricultural Holdings Act, 1923, in regard to compensation for improvements, for continuous adoption of a special standard or system of farming, and for disturbance are such that no tenant farmer need be deterred from farming his land in the most efficient manner. In these circumstances I am satisfied that there is no case for legislation on the lines indicated.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will confer with the Minister of Labour with a view to the utilisation of the many skilled building operatives who have now no work and are unemployed as a result of the Government's restrictions on building for a comprehensive tile drainage scheme throughout the country, in view of the many millions of waterlogged acres which are unsuitable for mole drainage; and whether he will implement legislation to effect this?

I have already been in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour on this matter and I understand that the Government's programme of works and buildings is expected to absorb a large number of workers in the building and allied industries and therefore it cannot be assumed that skilled building operatives will be available for field drainage work on farms.

Would my right hon. and gallant Friend consider setting up training centres to train men to do draining work? Is it not increasingly certain that this drainage will have to be done in the near future, and would it not be wise to take the initiative at an early date?

I dealt with the question of training last night and I said that I hoped to make a statement in the near future.

Would my right hon. and gallant Friend consider conscripting conscientious objectors for this work?

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend have a word with me afterwards?

We will have some tea.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to what extent vacant and unused land is now being cultivated under the Cultivation of Land (Allotments) Order, 1939; and what steps are being taken to ensure that the councils make the fullest possible use of the powers delegated to them?

I expect to receive reports from local authorities in a few weeks time. With regard to the last part of the Question, circulars have been sent to the local authorities concerned urging them to exercise their powers as widely as possible; in addition a campaign of publicity has been carried out by means of posters and leaflets, broadcast talks and public meetings, all directed to the stimulation and organisation of the demand for war-time allotments.

In cases where a local authority is over-burdened with local landlords will any penalty be put on landlords who refuse to use their land?

In his campaign of propaganda will the Minister use the co-operation of the Ministry of Information?

Yes, it is done in co-operation with the Ministry of Information.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the great success achieved by Pan American Airways in growing fresh vegetables by hydroponics on Wake Island and in other places where no soil is available; and whether, in view of the fact that this method would enable town-dwellers to grow much of their own food even if they have no gardens, he will issue a pamphlet on the subject; and, if necessary, obtain information from the United States Ministry of Agriculture?

I am aware of the research and experimental work which has been and is being carried out on the soil-less cultivation of plants in the United States, in this country, and elsewhere, and an article on this subject has already been published in the Ministry of Agriculture's Journal. On present information the results obtained by the system are not yet sufficiently definite to justify a recommendation to horticulturists in this country, but I will continue to keep the position under review.

What is hydroponics?

It is the soil-less cultivation of plants.

As all that is required is water and a few chemicals could not some enterprising body like the Tottenham Corporation be asked to try the experiment?

I do not think it is quite so simple as that.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the serious losses in food production caused by wood-pigeons; and whether, in order to assist vegetable production in gardens and allotments, he will move parks and woods authorities, such as the Corporation of the City of London and the London County Council, to organise shoots and other means of lessening the menace?

I am fully aware of the damage done to crops by wood-pigeons and a countrywide campaign against this pest has been conducted this season with the co-operation of the National Farmers' Union, the Central Landowners' Association, the Forestry Commission and the British Field Sports Society. I understand that the London County Council have arranged for their park staffs to shoot wood-pigeons in the early morning in the parks and open spaces under their control, and I hope that the publicity which this Question and answer will receive will encourage local authorities generally to take action where necessary for the destruction of these birds.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that in spite of any such action as he has described this pest still remains a very serious one for allotment holders and farmers?

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend issue simple instructions so that people can shoot these pests without interfering with the safe delivery of R.A.F. messages?

Will crows be shot at the same time?

That is a different matter.