asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of combine harvesters which he expects will be in use for the coming harvest as compared with last year; and if British makers have been able to obtain sufficient steel to maintain their full output.

About 5,000 combined harvesters are expected to be in use for the coming harvest as compared with 3,800 last year. I am afraid that, so long as steel remains in short supply, it is inevitable that manufacturers will find difficulty in obtaining supplies. I can, however, assure the hon. Gentleman that, in determining the allocations of material to makers of agricultural machinery, the requirements for combined harvesters have been given full consideration. My Department has done, and will continue to do, everything possible to assist manufacturers in overcoming their difficulties.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has now placed orders in the U.S.A. to meet all outstanding requirements of tyres for Farmall H tractors; and when he expects that the farmers, whose tractors are meanwhile immobilised, will get delivery of these tyres.

Three of the four sizes of tyres used on the Farmall H tractor are now made in this country; the fourth will be made here as soon as material and fuel shortages permit. In the meantime this size is being imported from the U.S.A. by tyre manufacturers against firm orders placed with them. Some supplies have been received during the past two months, a further consignment has just arrived, while another is now in transit from the U.S.

Can the Minister say when these outstanding orders for tyres will be met?

I am afraid I could not give an estimate. I only know that I have ordered sufficient to meet all our requirements and it depends on how quickly they arrive from the United States.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say when these orders were first placed?

Not without notice.

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain how it is that three sorts of tyres made of rubber and cotton can be produced here while the fourth cannot? What materials are lacking?

The hon. Gentleman would be aware that moulds and other preliminaries are not available.

Is it not a fact that there is no shortage of moulds whatsoever, and that the shortage of this particular size of tyre is due to the general shortage of carbon black in the United States?