asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the probable continued world shortage of wheat up to and after the 1947 harvest, he will consider giving orders for the sowing of at least 500,000 acres of spring wheat in England and Wales.

No, Sir. I prefer to rely on the instructions I have given to county war agricultural executive committees to continue to do their best to secure the original target of 2,500,000 acres of wheat for this year's harvest.

I believe I heard the Minister say he has no intention of giving instructions about the 500,000 acres. I was not quite clear about that. If that is the answer, has he noted the statements made by the Minister of Food to the effect that there has been a 2,000,000 shortage in the acreage of the world wheat production, and could not we do our share towards increasing the acreage for the benefit of ourselves and of others?

Yes, we are doing our share, with regard to both wheat and other agricultural produce.