Mr William Snadden: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the statement he has just made will cause much satisfaction?
Mr William Snadden: I have been long enough in this House, Sir, to realise that if one does not catch your eye before the Minister gets up, it is as well to keep on trying. I am encouraged also by what the right hon. Gentleman has said about land fertility. I think we all remember that when the Prime Minister addressed us last week he drew aside the veil to some extent at any rate on this vital question as to...
Mr William Snadden: asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has given agricultural executive committees in Scotland any instructions regarding the disclosure by their members and officers of information as to their proceedings, decisions and recommendations?
Mr William Snadden: Does the light hon. Gentleman consider it inappropriate that a Member of this House should seek or obtain information from a committee as to their proceedings?
Mr William Snadden: I raised this point in the Second Reading Debate and I am grateful to the Minister for his proposal to change the wording. There is only one point about which I should like an assurance. The Minister of Agriculture said on Second Reading that this provision was meant to apply in cases where, owing to the ploughing campaign, stock had been moved from arable land to hill land and the owner...
Mr William Snadden: I believe I am the only Scottish Member present but that does not mean I am going to raise only Scottish points. I feel strongly in agreement with the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. C. Davies) who pointed out that, although Clauses 9 and 10 are regarded by the majority of Members as the most important Clauses in the Bill, it must not be assumed that the others are necessarily...
Mr William Snadden: asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (1) whether he is aware that Direction C18/DI, prohibiting merchants from selling oats to persons other than oatmeal millers except where such oats are refused by them, was issued only to a certain number of authorised merchants leaving others a free hand; that this has caused much resentment; and will he take steps to remove this...
Mr William Snadden: It would seem almost ungracious to the Secretary of State for Scotland if this small Bill were allowed to pass without a word of congratulation from this side of the House, and if the Government were not congratulated on having taken a step, however small, towards the restoration of what one might call the lost lands of Scotland. In the foreground of the agricultural picture, as I see it...
Mr William Snadden: The Bill refers to agricultural land capable of improvement, and I thought that if the work could not be done by an owner under the existing Government scheme, the Government would have power to do it for him under this Bill.
Mr William Snadden: asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that egg prices have been reduced three times in five weeks; that producers in this industry are discouraged; and what method is employed by his Department in order to obtain accurate information regarding conditions prevailing in the poultry industry?
Mr William Snadden: Is my hon. and gallant Friend not aware that home producers, including many thousands of ex-Servicemen, cannot make a living at present prices? Is it the policy of the Ministry of Food to wipe them out altogether?
Mr William Snadden: asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take in order to provide suitable accommodation for members of the Women's Land Army on farms?
Mr William Snadden: I should like to ask whether the deduction of tithes in England will be a deduction from the gross rental? In Scotland the tithe is not, as it stands, a deduction. Will the method of arriving at the next Schedule A assessment be the same for both countries?
Mr William Snadden: asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the widespread dissatisfaction prevalent amongst oat growers as a result of the announcement of only a maximum price for oats, whereas wheat prices are fixed; and whether he will take steps to fix a guaranteed price of 14s. 6d. per cwt. for oats of milling quality and so place this crop on a parity with wheat?
Mr William Snadden: Does the Parliamentary Secretary realise that there is no guarantee that the grower will secure maximum prices, while, on the other hand, in regard to oatmeal, which is at the moment excluded, there is the certainty that prices will be related to the maximum? Is that a fair position to the grower of the oats and to the consumer of the oatmeal; and will the Parliamentary Secretary use his...
Mr William Snadden: When the 1940 wool clip prices were up for consideration were the Advisory Committees consulted in a body, or were individuals consulted?
Mr William Snadden: Is the Minister aware that sheep farmers are paid a rate of interest of only 3½ per cent. on the wool they are holding for the Government, whereas they must borrow at 5 per cent. in order to carry on until they get payment? Does the right hon. Gentleman think that that is a fair proposition?
Mr William Snadden: How is the farmer to finance his crops when the borrowing rate of interest is 5 per cent.? If he buys stores, he must borrow the money in order to pay for them?
Mr William Snadden: Is the hon. Member aware that there is no waste in Scotland?
Mr William Snadden: I seldom venture to address the House, but I make no apology for doing so on this occasion, because it is a very long time since we discussed agricultural problems. We have now 10 months of war behind us, and I think hon. Members will agree that during that time a very great deal has been done to encourage and expand agricultural production. I would take this opportunity to pay my modest...