§ 52. Mr. de Rothschildasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in order to prevent the spread of pig disease, he will take steps to secure the closing of open sale yards where pigs of doubtful health are liable to come into contact with and infect sound animals?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithWhenever the disease position justifies such action, markets for store pigs are prohibited. In the Eastern Counties where there have been a large number of outbreaks of swine fever, an Order is now in force which, inter alia, prohibits the holding of such markets. I am glad to say that as a result of the imposition of this Order the disease position in those counties has considerably improved.
§ 53. Mrs. Tateasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that large numbers of people are anxious to follow his advice and keep a pig to help the nation's food supply, but that many farmers who already keep pigs are unable to obtain sufficient supplies of food to feed existing litters; and how does he propose to solve this problem?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithIn an announcement made on 22nd November, pig producers were advised to plan their production programmes for the next 12 months on the basis that the proportion of their supplies of feeding stuffs derived from imports would be reduced by at least one-third. It is in order to provide for the fattening of some of the stock of those pig producers who are unable to obtain sufficient supplies of feeding stuffs that I have given the advice to which my hon. Friend refers to cottagers and others who can keep a pig which would be largely fattened upon household and garden waste.
§ Mrs. TateDoes not my right hon. and gallant Friend think that in war time there should be no household waste, and is he aware that at present the prices of poultry and meat in the London market denote that many farmers are killing stock because they have not sufficient food to raise it?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithIt is partly because of that reason that we are trying to get these herds and flocks dispersed among cottagers.