Ploughing-Up Campaign

48.

Mr. De la Bère
asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now in a position to make a further statement in connection with his instructions to the county war agricultural committees regarding the ploughing-up campaign for this autumn; and what is the Government's policy in connection with this matter?

Mr. Hudson
The Government's primary aim in connection with ploughing up for the 1944 harvest is the maintenance of the 1943 peak tillage area. This implies the ploughing-up of additional grassland to take the place of land which it is necessary to reseed in order to restore fertility. In addition, it is hoped to increase the tillage area in particular districts.

Mr. De la Bère
Is it not easier to cultivate land which has already been drained than to plough up the slopes of Plynlimmon and to endeavour to cultivate derelict and waterlogged land? Why not plough up the drained fairways of the golf courses? Can I have an answer?

Mr. Hudson
I have already explained to my hon. Friend why it would not be in the national interest to plough up certain golf courses.

Mr. De la Bère
That answer is not satisfactory.

Mr. Rhys Davies
Is it true that there is less land under cultivation now than at the beginning of hostilities?

Mr. Hudson
That fact was published the other day, in some figures issued by my Department, stating that the amount that is lost to aerodromes, munitions factories and battle areas is appreciably in excess of the amount which my Department has been able to reclaim from derelict land.

Mr. De la Bère
In view of that disclosure, something must be done.

Sir Joseph Lamb
Can my right hon. Friend say what is the decline in the amount of land under cultivation? Is it 100,000 acres a year?

Mr. Hudson
I do not know what the figure per year is, but the total is 2 per cent.

Mr. De la Bère
It is a national scandal.