Mr Thomas Dugdale: I shall have to think over that suggestion. The right hon. Gentleman, and anybody else who has held high Ministerial office, knows that one usually has an agreement with one's Parliamentary Secretary about these matters. The agreement in our case is that I answer Questions on Thursdays and the Parliamentary Secretary answers them on other days.
Mr Thomas Dugdale: My Department has no county liaison officers. The duties of my personal liaison officers are principally to interpret the Government's policy to the county agricultural executive committees and other organisations in their areas, and to advise me of any special problems or difficulties that are troubling committees and farmers. For these appointments I have selected men who are prominent and...
Mr Thomas Dugdale: Oh, no, Sir; certainly not.
Mr Thomas Dugdale: I am not certain to which liaison officer the right hon. Gentleman refers, but my liaison officers are most distinguished people in their own walk of life, and what I have done is to revive the wartime system which was so successful.
Mr Thomas Dugdale: Vibrio foetus infection is a venereal disease of livestock and is very difficult to treat. The best advice that can be given to farmers is to maintain their herds as self-contained breeding units, or to introduce only maiden heifers and bulls which have never served or to adopt artificial insemination. This very greatly reduces the risk of infection. Research into the disease is going on at...
Mr Thomas Dugdale: So far, the results of research have not on the whole been very satisfactory, but research is being continued. There is no doubt that the real remedy lies in preventing the introduction of the disease into a herd.
Mr Thomas Dugdale: It would be quite impossible to make any estimate such as my hon. Friend suggests.
Mr Thomas Dugdale: This, in common with other annual reports, was suspended as part of the general drive for economy during the war and has not since been resumed.
Mr Thomas Dugdale: Those supplementaries go far beyond the Question, but I would like to say that the Commissioners of Crown Lands are very anxious to publish a Report. As recently as 1951–52 they prepared an omnibus Report covering the eight years to 31st March, 1950, but after consultations with the Treasury about the printing and publication, it was considered that, in view of the continued need for...
Mr Thomas Dugdale: My right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of Food and I have this week received the recommendations of the group of officials who have reviewed this problem, and the Government's decision thereon will be announced as soon as possible.
Mr Thomas Dugdale: Yes, all those facts will be taken into consideration.
Mr Thomas Dugdale: We must first consider the report we have just received.
Mr Thomas Dugdale: The draft Fatstock Marketing Scheme has not been returned to the promoters. As I said in reply to a supplementary question on 17th June, the promoters have been invited to say whether or not, in the light of the objections to it, they wish to proceed with the Scheme. I expect their reply shortly. If they wish to proceed, a public inquiry will need to be held, and it will then be possible to...
Mr Thomas Dugdale: I think that my hon. Friend does not understand the working of the Marketing Acts. Schemes under those Acts are producer schemes, and it is up to the promoters to submit schemes to the Government.
Mr Thomas Dugdale: The Potato Marketing Scheme, 1933, was published in the Potato Marketing Scheme (Approval) Order, 1933, Statutory Rules and Orders, 1933, No. 1186. This is still in print and available.
Mr Thomas Dugdale: Copies of Statutory Rules and Orders can be obtained from Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
Mr Thomas Dugdale: Under the Land Drainage Act, 1930, drainage rates are based on the gross annual value for purposes of Schedule A of the Income Tax Acts. The correction of any inequalities in Schedule A assessments must await the re-valuation of these assessments.
Mr Thomas Dugdale: I answered the Question on the Order Paper. The trouble is that a revaluation is unlikely to take place on practical grounds before the revaluation for general rating purposes is complete, which will not be before 1956.
Mr Thomas Dugdale: So far as this system is concerned the Heneage Committee—and more recently the Waverley Committee—have advised in favour of present arrangements.
Mr Thomas Dugdale: I have given my answer, and any more detailed questions on this subject must be answered by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.