§ 27. Sir J. Mellorasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Government propose to take no further steps to assist and encourage poultry farming Save in so far as it may be ancillary to general 663 farming; whether he can give an estimate of the number of persons employed exclusively in poultry farming; and whether the Government have considered the consequences of allowing foreign imports to drive specialised poultry farms out of business?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, an analysis of the returns made under the Agricultural Returns Act, 1925, was made in 1930, when it was estimated that in that year poultry keeping was the main concern on 9,322 holdings of over one acre in extent in England and Wales; no corresponding analysis has been made for later years. As regards the last part of the question, I do not think the Lon-sequences referred to are likely to arise.
§ Sir J. MellorDoes not the Minister consider it desirable that those who specialise in poultry should have a very early intimation of the Government's policy, in order to enable them to decide whether they should persevere in their business or cut their losses?
§ Mr. MorrisonI am aware of the desirability of an early statement, and I will make one as early as I can.