§ 37 and 38. Captain BOWYERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture (1) whether His Majesty's Government have considered the extent to which the poultry industry of Great Britain may be developed as a source of food supply; whether the organisation now in existence for the promotion of the poultry industry is much inferior to that which has been set up in various foreign countries; and whether he will take steps to provide such State assistance to this industry as will enable British poultry keepers to compete successfully with foreign rivals; (2) whether he has considered, in view of the importance of the home poultry trade, the advisability of setting up a poultry husbandry department for discharged and demobilised sailors and soldiers and others; whether, in the event of such a department being set up, steps will be taken to carry out 851 research and educational work for large and small owners; and whether, to stimulate the home-grown poultry trade, steps will be taken to prevent foreign eggs, by marking them as such, from competing in public markets with fresh home-grown eggs?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AQRICULTURE (Sir Arthur Boscawen)In the reorganisation of the Board, it is intended that provision shall be made to ensure adequate representation on the staff of poultry experts, and it is proposed to establish a poultry institute for the purpose of education and research. The Board believe by these means, and by the better organisation of the industry, that British poultry keepers will be able more successfully to compete with their foreign rivals. The suggestion that foreign eggs should be marked as such is under consideration.
The Board do not propose generally to encourage discharged and demobilised soldiers and sailors, lacking in the necessary experience, to take up small holdings devoted exclusively to poultry keeping, but they are, nevertheless, anxious to encourage the more general keeping of poultry by those who take up small holdings.
§ Mr. BILLINGIf it is found that foreign competition is preventing home development, are the Government prepared to consider a tax on eggs?