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Agriculture

Volume 390: debated on Thursday 10 June 1943

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Poultry Feeding-Stuffs

49.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will confer with the Minister of Food for the purpose of providing an additional grain ration to the backyard poultry-keepers; and, in this connection, with a view to safeguarding existing supplies of grain, will he instruct the war agricultural county committees to utilise this autumn an increased acreage of unfilled soil which is available on the golf courses throughout the country?

Rations for backyard poultry have recently been increased by 25 per cent., and the balancer meal provided for them includes a proportion of ground grain. With regard to the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for East Leicester (Major Lyons) on 13th May.

Is the Minister aware that last winter many people throughout the country got no more than two to three eggs a month, in some cases only one? Does he realise that it is eggs we want? Will he look at that? That is an egg. And will he look at that? That is a golf ball. Does he realise that there is mile after mile of fairway uncultivated throughout the country? Should not every golf club be compelled to make some contribution to the national larder?

On a point of Order. Might I ask why the hon. Gentleman has got those things he has just exhibited?

Golf Courses (Ploughing-Up)

50.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state, to the latest available date, the approximate total acreage of land in England and Wales which is made use of by golf clubs; the approximate total acreage of this land which has been ploughed up for growing corn or cultivated for vegetable growing; and whether, in view of the fact that dairy farmers have been compelled to plough up grassland, which is normally unsuited for corn growing, he will, in order to increase the milk supply, take steps to allow this land to revert to grass and institute a more vigorous campaign for the ploughing up of the golf courses?

I have no information as to the total acreage of land used by golf clubs or the total acreage ploughed up and cultivated. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for East Leicester (Major Lyons) on 13th May. Any contribution to be made by golf courses to the tillage area must be in addition to, and not in substitution for, that of dairy farms. The ploughing of grassland on dairy farms need not entail any reduction of the milk supply.

Did not my right hon. Friend tell us only yesterday that we must have more winter milk? Why is it that these hundreds of thousands of acres remain fairways, with no corn or hay being produced on them at all? It is not right.

Growing Crops (Prosecutions)

51.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many pro- secutions have been instigated by his Department in respect of growing crops?

Proceedings have been taken in 630 cases in England and Wales for non-compliance with Cultivation Orders, breaches of the Horticultural Cropping Orders and damage to or waste of growing crops or of harvested crops still on farms.

Warble Fly

52.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the widespread damage being caused to hides by the warble fly; and what action he proposes to take about it?

I am aware of the damage caused through the warble fly. I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend copies of Press notices advising stock owners as to the action which they should take.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in some districts up to 70 per cent. of the hides and meat are damaged through this pest, and, in view of the urgent necessity both for leather and beef, could not steps be taken by the Ministry to enforce action?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that climatic conditions have caused a plague of this pest this year, and will he call the attention of pests officers of county war agricultural committees to the need for action? Will my right hon. Friend be good enough to answer that question, because the matter is of some importance? Will he give it special attention?

Is not there a scarcity of the dressing which the farmers use? Will my right hon. Friend take steps to increase the amount?

I will send my hon. Friend, too, a copy of the notice, and he will see that that point is dealt with.

Land Reclamation (Rent)

54.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he is taking to ensure that the farmer who reclaims a few acres of land and makes it able to yield crops is allowed to have it rent free and that the landlord should not be able to claim it?

The rent to be paid for land that is to be reclaimed is normally a matter for ordinary negotiation. I have no power to intervene except in so far as it might be necessary in order to avoid prejudice to food production.

Women's Land Army

55.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will establish hostels for members of the Women's Land Army in the Furness and Lune Valley districts of Lonsdale?

I am advised that, as there is other accommodation available in these districts, there is no immediate necessity for such a course; but I am watching the position, particularly in the Furness district, where the billeting situation is not very satisfactory.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is grave doubt whether billets can be found? Where there is difficulty in getting buildings for these girls, could he not requisition houses for them?

There are plenty of billets in the Lune area, and in the Furness area farmers' requirements are being met by male labour.

Could the right hon. Gentleman not give an undertaking to make a general survey of the welfare arrangements, not only of his Department but of other Departments, such as the Ministry of Labour? They are most unsatisfactory.

Italian Prisoners Of War

56.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will arrange for the provision of Italian prisoner-of-war labour for the Furness and Lune Valley districts of Lonsdale?

Yes, Sir. A prisoner-of-war camp is being established in South Westmorland, from which I hope that prisoners will shortly be available in this district.