Mr. De Ia Bère:

asked the Chancellor of the exchequer whether, in view of the unwillingness of the joint stock banks to lend money on sheep herds and flocks generally, whereas the so-called com- mercial banks charge up to 14 per cent. for these facilities on a hire-purchase basis in connection with cattle purchase, the Government will give the necessary guarantee to the joint stock banks indemnifying them against loss in connection with such advances and limiting the rate of interest that they usually charge in this connection to ½ per cent. above the current Bank Rate, these advances to be subject to adequate safeguards by the creation of travelling Government inspectors to prevent abuse?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries during the Debate on 25th January.

Mr. De la Bère:

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the question of credits to agriculture has been under consideration by the Government for four years? Is he aware that the Minister of Agriculture has responsibility but no power, and that the Treasury have every time stymied, deliberately stymied, all initiative on the part of the Minister of Agriculture to get something done for the agricultural community? Will he give him some help in this matter?

I do not want to contradict the hon. Member, but I would say that there is nothing further from the facts than to say that the Treasury has persistently opposed the Minister of Agriculture.

Mr. De la Bère:

May I ask whether my right hon. Friend is aware that I was present at one of the conferences, and that the whole line of resistance came from the Treasury; that this is too per cent..true and it is absolutely at variance with the known facts to suggest otherwise —and that has stymied my right hon. Friend?