§ 27. Colonel Ropnerasked the Minister of Agriculture whether is aware that, owing to the prolonged indecision on the future of the pigs marketing scheme, farmers, faced with higher bills for feeding stuffs, have been reducing breeding stocks; and what measures he proposes to adopt to prevent the inevitable falling off in supplies of fat pigs next autumn and winter?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonI am aware of the rise in the prices of feeding-stuffs, but until the agricultural returns for this year, which were collected on 4th June, have been examined and tabulated, I will have no precise information as to whether 15 farmers have been reducing breeding stocks. As I stated on 10th June in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for East Dorset (Mr. Hall-Caine), I hope to be able to make a statement on the Government's proposals for the reorganisation of the industry before the House rises for the Summer Recess.
§ Brigadier-General Clifton-BrownHas the Minister any precise information, apart from that which will be produced from the summary of the figures, on the high prices of feeding-stuffs, and does he consider that the information I gave him the other day is not good enough?
§ Mr. MorrisonInformation is available on this subject, but I would not like to give the House anything but precise information.
§ Mr. George GriffithsHow can the farmer be paying these increased prices when the foreigner pays them himself?