§ 10. Mr.CHARLES BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture what sums have been allocated by the Board out of the Development Fund Grant for the improvement of heavy horses, cattle, and pigs, respectively, in England and Wales; upon what principle such sums have been apportioned as between the twelve provinces into which the country has been divided for the purposes of agricultural education; and who will be responsible for selecting the necessary male stock and the persons who will enjoy the benefit of their use?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr.Runciman)The Treasury, on the recommendation of the Development Commissioners, have authorised a Grant of £8,000 to heavy horse stallion societies for the current financial year, and £5,000 to milk recording societies. The Board are still in correspondence with the Development Commissioners in respect of Grants for the provision of bulls and boars. The Grants will be apportioned between England and Wales in accordance with the estimated number of holdings above twenty acres and not exceeding 100 acres, namely, England 81 per cent., Wales 19 per cent. The sum available for England will be divided between the ten provinces on the basis of the live-stock population concerned. It is proposed that the male stock should be chosen in each district by a selection committee in conjunction with the live-stock officer for the province, and it is intended 1460 that the persons to benefit by their use should be, as far as possible, occupiers of agricultural holdings which do not exceed 100 acres in extent, or, if exceeding 100 acres, are of an annual value for the purpose of Income Tax not exceeding £100.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTDo I understand from that answer that these Grants are limited in their application to those holding less than 100 acres and who are paying less than £100 rent?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI cannot say that they are strictly limited, but the Grants were recommended by the Development Commissioners on the terms that in the first place the claims made for the benefits of the Grants by these smaller farmers should be satisfied before the case of larger farmers can be considered.