Grassland Ploughing

26.

Mr. De la Bère
asked the Minister of Agriculture what acreage of grassland was scheduled to be ploughed up in Worcestershire under the £2 an acre scheme; and how many acres have actually been ploughed?

The Minister of Agriculture (Colonel Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith)
As I stated in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for North Cumberland (Mr. W. Roberts) on 18th March, the ploughing-up quota allowed to each county represents only the minimum addition to the tillage area to be secured, and 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 as it might lead to a relaxation of effort.

Mr. De la Bère
Can my right hon. and gallant Friend tell us when he thinks it will be of advantage to publish this figure, because if it is a good figure it will give a great deal of encouragement, and if it is a bad one we ought to do something about it?

Sir R. Dorman-Smith
I can tell my hon. Friend that he will have reason to be proud of the result in Worcestershire.

Mr. De la Bère
May I say to my right hon. and gallant Friend that, for the first time for many months, I thank him very much?

Major Sir Philip Colfox
When will the grant of £2 an acre for ploughing-up reach the farmers, as a great many of them have not yet had it?