HC Deb 02 June 1943 vol 390 cc206-7
63. Dr. Little

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will give instructions that a better quality of feeding-stuff be provided for cattle and poultry, and to that end divert a quantity of the cereals supplied to the brewers to cattle owners and poultry-keepers?

Mr. Mabane

The quality of feeding-stuffs available for purchase by farmers and poultry keepers is not unsatisfactory having regard to the cessation of imports of feeding-stuffs and the prior claims upon home cereals of industries manufacturing products for human consumption. My Noble Friend sees no reason to adopt the suggestion in the last part of my hon. Friend's Question.

Dr. Little

Is my hon. Friend not satisfied that the shortage of milk, especially in the winter season, and of beef and eggs, is largely due to the inferior quality of the feeding-stuffs supplied, and have representations reached him regarding the mortality among poultry through the use of these feeding-stuffs; and in view of that will he not provide a better quality of feeding-stuffs from the sources I have suggested?

Mr. Mabane

I am sure that every effort will be made to keep the quality as high as we can, but, as I indicated in my answer, my Noble Friend does not see any good reason for adopting the suggestion in the last part of the hon. Member's Question.