§ Mr. LANE-FOXasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the breeding of light horses suitable for remount purposes has been during the past few years on the decrease in this country; and, if so, to what extent?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir E. Strachey)There has been a decline in horse breeding generally during the past few years, but our Agricultural Returns do 1311 not distinguish between different types and breeds of horses, and we are therefore unable to say to what extent the breeding of light horses suitable for remount purposes has diminished.
§ Viscount HELMSLEYWill the hon. Gentleman take steps to secure that in the information given by the Board of Agriculture the distinction shall be drawn?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYI understand there would be great difficulty in doing that.
§ Mr. LANE-FOXasked what is the grant made towards the breeding of horses in this country, and how it compares in amount with that made in France, Austria, and Germany?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYAn annual grant of £5,100 for the encouragement of horse breeding is given to the Royal Commission on Horse Breeding, and it will be possible for the Treasury to make advances for the same purpose out of the Development Fund during the ensuing financial year. The amounts spent on encouraging the horse-breeding industry in the countries mentioned are approximately:—
France £53,000 Germany £378,000 Austria £227,000