§ 74. Captain Sir BEVILLE STANIERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether members of pig clubs in rural districts, started during the War at the suggestion of the Board of Agriculture, are now being told by the local sanitary authorities that they must dispose of their pigs at once; whether, in view of the loss which this will inflict upon members of the working clauses who have pigs but who cannot fatten them until some months have elapsed, he can say what the wishes of the Board are in the matter; and what steps the Board propose to take in order to make such wishes known to the public and particularly to the rural and urban sanitary authorities?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir Arthur Boscawen)The Board have had their attention called to one ease in which it is stated that the local authorities are requiring members of a pig club to get rid of their pigs, and they are causing an inquiry to be made into the circumstances thereof. I shall be glad to institute inquiries into any other case which may be known to my hon. Friend. The Board will, if necessary, co-operate with my right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board to secure the continuance of the practice of keeping pigs by members of pig clubs and the rural population generally.
§ Sir B. STANIERCould the hon. Gentleman make a general request to the authorities that this might continued?
Sir A. BOSCAWENIt is the practice now, but if there are any special cases where the practice is not being carried out, we will inquire into them.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWill the hon. Gentleman see that the pigs are not killed while the inquiries are being made?