Mr Robert Crouch: asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the amount of grant paid during the last twelve months for water supplies, drainage and road works; and how many farms were concerned.
Mr Robert Crouch: May I ask my right hon. Friend how these grants compare with those of previous years? Does he think that as a result of this expenditure we shall have some further increase of production from the farms concerned?
Mr Robert Crouch: asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will introduce one-way traffic in central London.
Mr Robert Crouch: I thank my right hon. Friend for his reply. I have in mind central London itself. Will he consider having one-way traffic along Piccadilly, Regent Street, Oxford Street, and Park Lane? Petrol will be coming off ration before the year is out, and yesterday the Chancellor said he anticipated an increase of £2 million in the revenue from motor taxation. In view of that, it seems that before the...
Mr Robert Crouch: For the last two days we have been listening to debates concerning our national finances. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, you have been unable to listen to them. I want to bring a breath of air from the countryside. I wish to raise some questions about the calf subsidy. I feel that I have a real grievance to present to the House on behalf not only of many of my constituents but many...
Mr Robert Crouch: I should like my hon. Friend to support me and not one of his officers who arrived at a farm quite recently and said, "Shorthorns? You have had it." Does my hon. Friend support that?
Mr Robert Crouch: I thank my hon. Friend for what he has said. Can he also give me an assurance that never again will a certifying officer sit in his motor car and say, "Because they are Shorthorns they are out"?
Mr Robert Crouch: I should like, first, to congratulate my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer upon the way in which he introduced his Budget and the excellent Budget that it is. I was not disappointed in what he did—
Mr Robert Crouch: —because I have known my right hon. Friend over a number of years and I always felt that when the time came for him to take up high office he would meet his responsibilities and take his duties as seriously as any of his predecessors have done. It does not surprise me in the least that there have been criticisms from hon. Members opposite. If they have not had much confidence in the...
Mr Robert Crouch: Not in Israel. We must get together, employer and employee, and ensure that we get our exports into the markets where our goods are badly needed. We are all, on both sides, pleased with the announcement by the Chancellor of the removal of Entertainments Duty from the live theatre and from sport. A great deal was said by the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) about the tax on the...
Mr Robert Crouch: Oh, yes, we have been paying tax. Some of these small but ancient boroughs will benefit very much indeed. What will be welcomed throughout the country, in spite of what hon. Members may have said to the contrary, is the reduction in Purchase Tax on so many items. It will be welcomed by the people as a whole as the most pleasing feature of the Budget. There is another direction in which...
Mr Robert Crouch: I could not afford them. On behalf of a large number of my constituents, I welcome the increase to £250 and £400 in the allowances for people who reach the age of 65. My right hon. Friend said that the duty from motor transport will go up by £2 million. He did not explain how this figure is arrived at, but presumably it will be as the result of more motor vehicles going on the roads. He...
Mr Robert Crouch: Is my right hon. Friend aware that by the use of modern methods, better grass seeds, more fertilisers and better cultivation we can increase the area of fertile land by bringing back land which has been out of cultivation for a long period? Does he not think that that will replace sonic of the fertile land lost to agriculture?
Mr Robert Crouch: asked the Minister of Works when the scaffolding was erected around Big Ben Tower; when the repairs were completed; how much per week the hire has cost; and what will be the cost of removal.
Mr Robert Crouch: May I ask my hon. Friend why the scaffolding was not removed immediately the work was completed?
Mr Robert Crouch: asked the Minister of Works what has been the cost of repairing Big Ben and the tower; when the work was last carried out; and at what cost.
Mr Robert Crouch: Does not my hon. Friend think that, in spite of the expenditure of £66,000, the prestige of this Palace and this great city of London is very much enhanced by having Big Ben and the Tower?
Mr Robert Crouch: asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the Farm Price Review.
Mr Robert Crouch: Is my right hon. Friend aware that the agricultural community is looking forward to a fair settlement this year, and that the consumers are most anxious that there should be a continued supply of fresh food from our own farms which can be bought at a price to give the producer a fair return for his capital and labour?
Mr Robert Crouch: asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to receive the Report of the Food Standards Committee on improving the quality of ice cream.
