18. Mr. SMITH-CARRINGTONasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is yet in a position to announce the result of his consideration of the representations of the Shire Horse Society in regard to an increase in the scale of grants for heavy horse breeding?
Mr. GUINNESSIn order to give further encouragement to farmers to breed heavy horses, the maximum direct grant payable by the Ministry to a heavy horse society will be increased next season from £40 to £60 a stallion, and societies will be authorised to raise their hiring fee to a maximum one of 400 guineas instead of 300 guineas, and to increase their service fee from three to four guineas.