asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in. connection with the Government assistance scheme for drainage for clearing farm ditches, he will circularise all county war agricultural executive committees, urging on them the necessity of immediately surveying and approving the land which is to be dealt with under this scheme, with a view to expediting the carrying out of this work?

I have already drawn the attention of county war agricultural executive committees to the grants available for work of clearing farm ditches and urged them to co-operate to the utmost of their power with drainage authorities in the preparation and supervision of suitable schemes.

Does my right hon. and gallant Friend realise that later on haymaking and harvest will take all the men, and that the only time to do this work is now and that delay is fatal? Is not this another example of doing too little and being too late?

No, we have drawn the attention of county committees to this matter and they have promised to co-operate with the drainage authorities. More than that we cannot do.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend help me in my own case, as I am in great difficulty?

I am sorry to hear that my hon. Friend's ditches are in this condition.

The land is not mine. It is merely land which I have taken out of patriotism since the outbreak of war?

What steps will the Minister take where it is found that county committees are not doing their duty in regard to drainage?

Their powers are laid down and we exercise what persuasion we can.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that, in Westmorland, the War Agricultural Executive is more concerned about pleasing landowners than getting the land drained; and what steps he is taking to get the necessary work done?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I have to-day given to my hon. Friend the Member for Evesham (Mr. De la Bère).

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman not aware that at the last meeting of the Westmorland Branch of the National Farmers' Union the secretary stated that the War Agricultural Executive were more concerned about the privileges of landowners than they were about draining land?

It does not necessarily follow that that is a statement of fact.

rose—

Mr. Jenkins.

On a point of Order. Since I am quoting a statement made by the secretary of a branch of the National Farmers' Union is the right hon. Gentleman correct in suggesting that he is not telling the truth?

It is a question of opinion.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the average output per acre of wheat, oats and barley, respectively, for the season ended 1939, or nearest year?

The average yields of wheat, oats and barley in the United Kingdom in 1939 are estimated at 19·6, 16·5 and 17·6 cwt. per acre respectively.

Why was it given out that the ploughing up of 2,000,000 acres would produce 2,000,000 tons if from the existing acreage we get only 18 cwt. of wheat per acre?

There is not only the wheat; there are the barley and oats.

But you cannot grow more than 18 cwt. of grain on one acre.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will arrange for the Wheat Commission to pay the wheat subsidy payments in full, seeing that the price is guaranteed, as the present instalment method tends to minimise the full benefit of these payments being realised?

Wheat deficiency payments for an accounting period are based on the average price realised for wheat sold in that period, and cannot therefore be computed until after the period has ended. Section 1 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous War Provisions) Act, 1940, provides for the making of deficiency payments in respect of accounting periods less than a year, and final payments can now be made at an earlier date than hitherto. The first two accounting periods for the current cereal year were prescribed by the Act, and an Order was made recently ending the third accounting period on 31st March. The Wheat Commission hope to make final payments to registered growers on or about the 5th June, in respect of wheat sold up to 31st March.

While that is a very satisfactory solution for the present year, is there any reason why next year the full payment should not be made at the time of the sale, or very soon afterwards, seeing that the prices are now fixed, because it would help the farmer if he could get the cash then?

Oh, yes, keep the farmer going.

I appreciate the hon. Member's point, but we have to take an accounting period, and sales of seed wheat come in as well. We are trying to keep the accounting period as short as is reasonably possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what are the figures in the Louth Rural District showing the number of rats killed since October, 1939?

I have no information as to the total number of rats killed in the Louth Rural District since October, 1939, but I understand from reports which have been brought to my notice that during the period 21st November, 1939, to 31st March, 1940, nearly 42,500 rats were destroyed in that district as a result of the system of paying rewards for rats' tails.

Does not my right hon. Friend consider that the success of this campaign in this local authority's area is due to their being allowed to pay for rats, and will he see that those payments are allowed to continue?

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he is taking to forward the campaign against rats; and what are his future proposals for carrying on the campaign in rural and urban districts?

In reply to the first part of the Question, every effort is made to encourage and assist occupiers of lands and premises to fulfil their statutory obligations to keep their properties clear of rats. Literature published by the Ministry is available free, or at a very small charge, giving full particulars of the most effective methods of rat destruction. Many of these methods, and much general information about the depredations caused by rats, are illustrated in a cinematograph film, copies of which are available for loan free of charge to local authorities or other responsible bodies. In addition, the services of the Ministry's technical adviser on rat destruction are available where a local authority requires them in connection with any case presenting points of special difficulty.

As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given on 17th April to my hon. Friend the Member for Abingdon (Sir R. Glyn). The question of an intensive campaign during the present emergency in rural and urban districts is under consideration by the Ministry in consultation with other Government Departments concerned.

As my right hon. Friend says that he has no knowledge of the number of rats killed in any area, how can he tell us whether the campaign is a success?

There is an obligation on occupiers to kill the rats and we hope they are carrying out their obligations.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of employing the old man and his dog? They will kill them all.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to illness and death caused by Weils disease spread by rats in seaports; and what steps he is taking to counteract this?

I am aware that cases of Weil's disease occur from time to time, but the disease is not specially a feature of seaports. The dangers of this disease have been referred to in recent reports by my chief medical officer, and local authorities generally are aware of their powers and duties in connection with rat destruction. I do not, therefore, think it necessary to make any special recommendations in this matter at the present time.