§ 79. Mr. de ROTHSCHILDasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the burden which will be inflicted on pig breeders by the proposed withdrawal of the financial support hitherto given by the Ministry to the pig-recording system; and whether he will consider a scheme whereby the cost may be shared between breeders and the Ministry?
§ Dr. ADDISONIf the hon. Member is referring to the pig-recording scheme conducted by the School of Agriculture, Cambridge, since 1927, with a grant from the Ministry, this experiment has been conducted sufficiently long to enable those participating in it to decide for themselves whether to continue it or not on a self-supporting basis. It was never the intention to continue either the experiment or the grant indefinitely, and those concerned were notified in September last that the grant would cease on the 30th September next. The Pig Industry Council recommended the general initiation of pig-recording schemes on a part payment basis, but I regret that I cannot, owing to the financial stringency, give effect to that recommendation or to the hon. Member's suggestion at the present time.
§ Mr. de ROTHSCHILDIn view of the importance of helping the pig industry, will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider it, and ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to transfer a grant from grand opera to the Pig Recording Society?