asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will take steps to test the claims made by leading industrial chemists that a small quantity of the new drug aureomycin, when mixed with a ton of animal feed, produces a 50 per cent. speed up in the growth of farm stock, and, so far as is warranted, make supplies available to livestock rearers throughout the country.

The hon. Member no doubt has in mind the addition of vitamin B12, in residues of aureomycin and streptomycin, to animal diets deficient in animal protein. Such deficient diets lead to a retarded growth rate in non-ruminant animals, and the addition of the vitamin in this way appears to enable the growth rate to return to that normally obtained from feedingstuffs containing animal protein. This matter is already under investigation, more particularly at the National Institute for Research in Dairying. The results will be made known as soon as they prove of value to the agricultural community.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how the profitability of the agricultural industry is arrived at; what differences there are between the figures for separate counties or groups of counties where conditions are similar; and whether these differences were taken into consideration in the February price review.

The main evidence on the profitability of agriculture comes from farm accounts collected and analysed by University Departments of Agricultural Economics, and summarised by the Agricultural Departments. These accounts, which are not classified by counties but by types of farming, are taken into consideration at the February price review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what changes are now contemplated in the responsibility of the Agricultural Land Service for drainage and water supplies.

As a matter of Departmental convenience, it was recently decided that work in the counties in connection with grant-aided schemes of field drainage and water supply should come under the general direction of the assistant county agricultural officer (executive). No change is contemplated in the responsibilities of the Agricultural Land Service for giving advice on field drainage and water supplies so far as these affect estate management.

Does the right hon. Gentleman's reply mean that the Land Service has full responsibility for farm water supplies and field drainage, or is it only question of giving advice?

The county agricultural officer now becomes the person responsible for the kind of drainage referred to by the hon. Member and the estate agent member of the county executive committee is no longer responsible for that service.

Does that reply mean that the right hon. Gentleman has divided the responsibility and now has two people for the job instead of one?

No. We have done exactly the opposite; we have contracted it to one person.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in considering the question of the removal of Defence Regulation 62B, he will have regard to the interests of the domestic rabbit-keepers who, through their rabbit clubs, are making a useful contribution to the food supplies of this country.

Yes, Sir.

Is the Minister aware that many thousands of people belonging to these clubs, and mostly living in big towns, developed this business during the war as result of appeals from the Minister of Food and that if this regulation is not replaced they will run a risk of losing not only the results of many years' work but also a hobby which they value very much?

That is why my answer was, " Yes, Sir."

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the hardship which the rise in the cost of oil will cause farmers using oil-fired grass driers and what steps he proposes tc mitigate the position.

I am advised that the fuel consumed by oil-fired grass driers is not subject to the increase in the Customs and Excise duty on hydrocarbon oils announced in the Budget Statement.

Does the Minister realise that that reply will give great relief to a large number of farmers throughout the country?

All my replies do.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the damage being done to sheep in North Lincolnshire by stray dogs; and what steps he is taking to help farmers in this matter.

I am aware that dogs are responsible for causing damage to sheep in some parts of the country. Discussions on this subject generally have been taking place with the National Farmers' Union. They have not yet been completed, but I must confess that I feel doubtful whether an effective and practicable remedy can be devised.

Is the Minister aware that because of this there are farmers who are giving up sheep breeding? Something should be done to help them.

It is discouraging to farmers when dogs ravage their sheep and land, and if any practicable solution could be found I should be very happy indeed.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is strong feeling on this subject among farmers in Surrey as well as among those in Lincolnshire?

asked the Minister of Agriculture what arrangements have been made for the importation of strawberries this coming summer; and how far these arrangements have been made with the agreement of the strawberry growers in the south of Hampshire.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Press announcement of 12th February, 1950, about imports of fresh fruits and vegetables, from which he will see that if home supplies are sufficient, it is proposed to suspend from 1st June to 31st July, inclusive, the present open general licence for the importation of strawberries, and to limit imports during this period to a total of 2,500 tons. The arrangements were discussed with the National Farmers' Union but not with growers in particular areas.

Is the Minister aware that growers have been in a state of great suspense concerning their fate? Will he indicate the results of this document to the Growers' Federation?

The Growers' Federation have already been made aware of it.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the housewives of this country are tired of high prices and the protection of home growers? Will my right hon. Friend in the future protect housewives and see that they get plentiful supplies of soft fruit at cheap prices?

asked the Minister of Agriculture how much of the £36,000,000 cut in feedingstuffs subsidy is being paid by the consumer in higher prices; and how much must come from farming profits.

There is no close connection between the recently announced increase in farmers' prices on the one hand and consumers' prices on the other. As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food indicated on 5th April changes in consumers' prices are the outcome of many different factors, including variations in the cost of home-grown and imported food and in the volume of supplies. In answer to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon Friend the Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Gooch) on 20th April.

Would not the Minister admit that, whatever sum has to be paid by the consumer, it falsifies the Chancellor of the Exchequer's claim that only bread would go up in price as the result of devaluation'?

I do not think my right hon. and learned Friend ever made such a statement.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman possess a wireless set?

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in order to remove misconceptions recently aroused in the public mind, he will issue a White Paper setting out the factors that determine the prices guaranteed to British farmers.

The prices guaranteed to agricultural producers are determined in the light of the conclusions reached from reviews of the economic condition and prospects of the industry which are held in accordance with Section 2 of the Agriculture Act, 1947. All relevant factors are taken into account in the course of these reviews and in the subsequent determination of prices, but the importance attached to different factors may vary from one review to another and I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by the issue of a White Paper.

As these misconceptions persist and as farmers have nothing to hide —nor, presumably have the Government— would it not be wise to have the facts set out plainly in black and white?

I doubt whether it would be possible to provide the clarity which the hon. Member desires.

Will the Minister think about this again? We keep having misunderstandings on this point. I would commend the Minister to read the speech which his right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made in the House on Monday. It completely confuses the issue on this problem.

There may have been confusion, but I am perfectly certain that it does not rest with the farming community or with those who represent the Government conduct these reviews.

I entirely agree. That is why we want a White Paper giving the facts.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the estimated average annual acreage lost by coast erosion throughout Great Britain; what is the total area of land at the present moment under reclamation; and what land has been reclaimed since 1945.

I understand that no recent estimates of the acreage lost annually by coast erosion are available. About 1,000 acres are at present under reclamation in Scotland and a further 700 acres are being considered for reclamation in England. Although the total acreage reclaimed since 1945 cannot be accurately stated, at least 3,000 acres are known to have been reclaimed in this period in England and 3,500 acres in Scotland.

If the Minister has no recent figures how can this rather serious problem be watched? In view of the ever-diminishing area of agricultural land, would the right hon. Gentleman say what large-scale schemes exist for the reclamation of land and the prevention of coast erosion?

Coast erosion is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, who has no figures other than those which I have given.

Could the Minister give us the figures relating to Wales?

I know of no schemes of reclamation of this kind in Wales; otherwise I should have given the figures.

asked the Minister of Agriculture from what section of the Hill Farming Act he derives his powers to pay the guarantee when electricity is installed into certain farms; and how it is decided which farmers shall be helped in this way.

Under Section 1 and the First Schedule of the Hill Farming Act, 1946, grant may be paid towards the cost of installing a supply of electricity on a hill farm, provided this work forms part of a comprehensive improvement scheme for the farm. Grant is paid only on the initial capital cost of installation; no grant is paid on guaranteed minimum annual consumption charges. Farms eligible for grant are those which consist wholly or partly of hill farming land as defined in the Act.

Is the Minister aware that in certain parts of East Lancashire the decision as to which farms shall and which shall not receive the benefits of which he has spoken is causing a great deal of unhappiness between neighbouring farmers?

I am not aware of that, but if the hon. Member cares to bring any case to my notice I will gladly look into it.