53. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, as farmers cannot obtain even 20 per cent. of their requirements of straight-run feeding-stuffs based on their consumption figures for last year, although supplies of compound cubes and so-called mixed meals are available, he will confer with the Minister of Food and the chairman of the Animal Feeding-Stuffs Board, with a view to ensuring that the allocations in respect of feeding-stuffs are made contingent on the merchants and distributors handing on a substantial percentage of these allocations as straight-run feeding-stuffs to farmers?
§ Mr. RamsbothamThe supply of straight-run feeding-stuffs to farmers has already been the subject of discussion between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Food and it has recently been decided to issue a further circular to the Feeding-Stuffs trade with the object of ensuring amongst other things that an adequate proportion of the available supplies are released to farmers in the straight-run form.
Mr. De la BèreIs my right hon. Friend aware that in connection with the processing of wheat at the port mills which provide feeding offals from the wheat for pigs and poultry, the allocation goes entirely to the large milling combines, and that the present system of distribution is grossly inequitable and wholly unsatisfactory?
§ Mr. RamsbothamI am not aware of that.
58. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in connection with the larger increase in the numbers of livestock now coming forward to the market, he will confer with the Minister of Food and the chairman of the Animal Feeding-Stuffs Board with a view to issuing some statement as to the relations of these increases to the shortage of animal feeding-stuffs, in view of the reports which are being issued from a large number of agricultural areas of an increased number of animals being slaughtered for lack of feed?
§ Mr. RamsbothamThe increase in the number of animals coming forward for sale for slaughter is due to marketings in more normal proportions following upon 954 the short supply in recent weeks consequent upon the severe weather and the adjustment in marketing arrangements necessitated by the introduction of Government purchase of fat stock. The second part of the Question does not, therefore, arise.
Mr. De la BèreIs my right hon. Friend aware that the bulk of these animals are sent under force majeure for lack of feeding stuffs? Will he tell the House by what right the Minister has fixed the prices for these livestock under the cost of production? The whole thing is absolutely unjustifiable.
§ Mr. RamsbothamMy information is that not much of the premature marketing is on account of lack of feeding-stuffs.