§ 12. Mr. JOWETTasked what steps the Government intends to take in reference to fostering British agriculture with a view to assisting the food supply of the country in poultry, fruit growing and grading, and industries connected with fruit, such as fruit bottling and canning, and drying of fruits and vegetables?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir Harry Verney)The Board have issued special leaflets on the various subjects referred to by my hon. Friend, and these leaflets have had a very wide circulation. Experiments under the direction of the Board are being conducted in fruit and vegetable drying, and intensive poultry keeping and competitions, with a view to popularising instruction in poultry keeping, have been arranged for. I shall be very glad to give the hon. Member personally further particulars of the methods adopted by the Board for placing all possible information at the disposal of farmers and small holders.
§ 20. Mr. TICKLERasked the Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he is aware that the exportation of potatoes and vegetables generally has been prohibited by practically all the European States; and if he will take measures at once to stop the exportation of these articles from the United Kingdom, and thereby prevent the exhaustion of one of the staple foods of the people?
§ Sir H. VERNEYI am aware that certain of the European States have prohibited the exportation of potatoes and 409 vegetables, and the question whether it is desirable for His Majesty's Government to take similar action is receiving the most careful consideration.
§ 23. Colonel SHARMAN-CRAWFORDasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what steps are being taken by the Department to encourage farmers to sow more wheat and other grain for human consumption, and thus help to make the country less dependent upon foreign sources of supply?
§ Mr. RUSSELL (Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture, Ireland)I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave yesterday to the similar question of the hon. Member for North Westmeath.