Sir Waldron Smithers: asked the Minister of Agriculture why he proposes to hand back to the National Trust land in Adventurers Fen, in Burwell and Swaffham, in view of their expressed intention to flood it; how much public money has been spent by the agricultural executive committee; and if he will make a statement on the particulars which have been sent to him.
Sir Waldron Smithers: How does the Minister justify, under Section 84, (1, a and b) of the Agriculture Act, 1947, making derelict good agricultural land by flooding?
Sir Waldron Smithers: asked the Minister of Agriculture why he effects boundary adjustments of agricultural land on the recommendation of the Land Commission under Section 84 (1) (a) and (b) of the 1947 Act when Section 87 provides for boundary adjustments.
Sir Waldron Smithers: May we take it that the Minister uses whatever Section suits him best to avoid an appeal?
Sir Waldron Smithers: asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that his use of the Agricultural Marketing Acts and other Acts is leading the way to the nationalisation of the farming industry; and if he will make a statement on his future policy in this regard.
Sir Waldron Smithers: Whatever the Minister says, does he not realise that in fact he is operating the Socialist policy of land nationalisation, that farmers are being dispossessed without the right of appeal to an ordinary traditional court of English law on points of fact and merit, and would he, as a Conservative Minister, stop doing these things?
Sir Waldron Smithers: asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the purchasing power of the £ at the latest available date taking June, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952 as 20s., respectively.
Sir Waldron Smithers: Will the Chancellor warn the country and himself before it is too late that increases in taxes, rates and wages can result only in a vicious spiral and a further depreciation of the paper £, and that in a country which cannot be self-supporting they must increase our cost of production and impede or destroy our ability to export at world competitive prices, which we must do or starve?
Sir Waldron Smithers: asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to state, to the nearest £1,000,000, the amount of debt held by Government Departments on 31st March, 1953, under the headings of Floating Debt and Other Internal Debt (excluding Bonds tendered for Death Duties), respectively.
Sir Waldron Smithers: When it is available, will my hon. Friend send me a copy?
Sir Waldron Smithers: Will my right hon. Friend explain why it was necessary for the Minister to exercise these dictatorial methods and why, if farmers are supervised and controlled, butchers, bakers and candlestick makers are not?
Sir Waldron Smithers: asked the Minister of Agriculture the relationship between the National Agricultural Advisory Service and the county agricultural executive committees; and if he will take steps to ensure that no one shall be a member of both these committees.
Sir Waldron Smithers: Is it not contrary to British justice that anyone who gives advice should be judge in a case where that advice is not followed?
Sir Waldron Smithers: asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that the full value of the National Agricultural Advisory Service is not being secured because farmers most in need of help and advice are afraid to call in officers of the Service because they fear that it will set in motion the dispossession functions of the county agricultural executive; and what action he will take to put an end to this.
Sir Waldron Smithers: Will the Minister not stop these totalitarian methods of supervising and dispossessing farmers, especially when those farmers have no right of appeal to a traditional court of law?
Sir Waldron Smithers: Will my hon. Friend carefully read the leading article in "The Times" this morning entitled "The cost of security"?
Sir Waldron Smithers: asked the Minister of Agriculture the annual cost to the taxpayers and ratepayers, respectively, of the supervision and dispossession of farmers and smallholders; and how many persons are employed in these duties.
Sir Waldron Smithers: Will the Minister stop this waste of public money, and is he aware that the British public will not tolerate this Gestapo for much longer? May I also ask him to read a letter in the "Manchester Guardian" this morning, written by Mr. Holden Wood, which I think will interest him very much?
Sir Waldron Smithers: asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will now introduce legislation to ensure that farmers and smallholders who are dispossessed should have the right of appeal on points of fact and of merit to a traditional court of law.
Sir Waldron Smithers: Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is no real difference between the powers of dispossessing farmers which he exercises and those in operation in Russia and other Soviet countries? Will he introduce legislation immediately to give dispossessed farmers a right of appeal to a traditional court of English law on points of fact and of merit?
