§ Lord APSLEYasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the large sums of money being allocated by the Governments of foreign nations to the assistance of horse-breeding; and whether he is satisfied that the measures now adopted by his Department to encourage horse-breeding in Great Britain are sufficient to maintain the standard of the various breeds of horses and the export trade resulting therefrom?
§ Major ELLIOTI am aware that many foreign Governments provide considerable sums of money for the encouragement of horse-breeding mainly, I believe, for the purpose of securing an adequate supply of horses for Army purposes. So far as heavy horses are concerned, I am satisfied that the grants made by the Ministry to heavy horse societies suffice for the purpose of the agricultural in- 523W dustry. The question whether it will be possible in existing financial circumstances for the Ministry to take over responsibility for providing financial assistance for the encouragement of the breeding of light horses is receiving consideration, and I am not at present in a position to make a statement on the subject.