HC Deb 11 March 1940 vol 358 c819
14. Mr. Price

asked the Minister of Agriculture what arrangements have been come to to provide properly constituted pig clubs with a certain quantity of feeding-stuffs to supplement household offals?

Sir R. Dorman-Smith

I am not at present able to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Doncaster (Mr. J. Morgan) on 14th February by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food to the effect that the question of the supply of feeding-stuffs to pig clubs is under consideration.

Mr. Price

Is the Minister not aware that time is the essence of this business and that unless something is done to encourage the keeping of pigs on a small scale, there will be a considerable, reduction in the number of pigs in the country before long?

Sir R. Dorman-Smith

I realise that time is the essence of the matter, but feeding-stuffs are also essential, and we are trying to get these two considerations together.

Mr. T. Williams

Is the Minister of Agriculture getting a statement from his colleague the Minister of Food as to what he proposes to do regarding feeding-stuffs for pigs?

Sir R. Dorman-Smith

That is another question.

Mr. R. C. Morrison

Will the Minister take steps to see that local authorities which are now collecting considerable quantities of food for pigs do not have it left on their hands after they have taken the trouble to collect it?

Sir R. Dorman-Smith

We are trying to deal with that matter.

Mr. A. V. Alexander

Has the Minister received any serious complaints about high prices, sometimes regarding invoices without any prices at all, for mixed food for pigs?

Sir R. Dorman-Smith

That is another question.

Mr. De la Bère

Is the Minister not aware that straightrun feeding-stuffs are unobtainable?