§ Mr. YOUNGER (for Major Anstruther-Gray)asked the Secretary of State for War what progress has been made with the census of horses in the United Kingdom; and when is it estimated that the information will be complete?
§ Mr. HALDANEAs I informed the House on the 25th June, a complete classified census has been taken for the county of Devon, and the Home Office authorities are arranging for a similar census to be taken in the remaining counties this year, if possible.
§ Mr. YOUNGER (for Major Anstruther-Gray)asked whether, in view of the fact that the same horses may be hired for any number of Yeomanry regiments, and that consequently a serious shortage of suitably trained horses may arise in time of urgent need, he intended to take any active steps to put this matter right beyond the taking of a census of horses in the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. HALDANEThe hon. and gallant Member is evidently unaware that owing to the fact that the periods of training of many Yeomanry regiments overlapped, the utilisation of the same horses to the extent suggested was rendered impossible. As I recently informed him, a census of horses must necessarily be a preliminary to the formation of a scheme for the provision of horses on mobilisation.
§ Mr. YOUNGER (for Major Anstruther-Gray)asked the Secretary for War whether he will consult his advisers with a view of preventing horses being hired to more than one Yeomanry regiment in the same year, so as to ensure that every yeoman will be able to turn out properly mounted on a suitably trained horse at short notice?
§ Mr HALDANEIt is impossible to consider any scheme for the provision of horses on mobilisation until the census has been completed.