54. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will take steps to ensure an immediate expansion of the hatching programme for poultry-keepers, in view of the present stoppage of supplies of eggs from the Scandinavian countries which necessitates this further expansion; and whether, in this connection, he will confer with the Minister of Food to ensure that adequate supplies of imported wheat and also cut wheat are available for this purpose?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithPoultry production in this country must largely depend upon the volume of supplies of feeding-stuffs that can be imported from overseas, having regard to other defence requirements, and it is not possible to give the assurances with regard to future supplies which would have to form the basis of any Government action designed to increase the hatching programme of poultry keepers. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Food has recently made arrangements, after consultation with the Agricultural Departments, to make available a supply of cut wheat for chick feeding. The proportion of home-grown wheat that may be used for feeding purposes was also increased by an Order made on 15th March.