§ Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture how he accounts for the steady and continuing fall in the sheep population of Great Britain, amounting within the last thirty years to 125,000 head?
§ Mr. HERBERT LEWISThere has been no steady and continuing fall in the number of sheep during the period mentioned. The total number in Great Britain was 24,581,053 in 1881 and 26,494,992 in 1911. It has been larger and smaller than the present number in different years. The causes of the fluctuation have been discussed from time to time in the reports published with the annual agricultural returns.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTIs the hon. Gentleman aware that is not consistent with the figures given me four days ago by the President of the Board?
§ Mr. HERBERT LEWISI am quoting the official figures with which I have been furnished, and which shows there has been, as a matter of fact, a considerable increase in the period mentioned by the hon. Gentleman.