50. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in the case of W. Preston, Junior, of Derby House, Station Road, Broadway, Worcestershire, a regular soldier who served, for nine years overseas, was wounded in Egypt, and discharged from the Army with a small pension, he will amend the terms of Serial No. 1477, so as to permit this man, and other cases similarly situated, to obtain sufficient feeding-stuffs for pigs and poultry, to enable him to earn a livelihood and supplement his small war pension.
Mr. HudsonThe circular to county war agricultural executive committees, to which my hon. Friend refers, deals only with cases of men discharged from the Forces who were keeping pigs or poultry immediately prior to the war. Much as I regret it, I am afraid that the feeding-stuffs supply position at present does not enable me to extend its scope to meet cases such as that of Mr. Preston, who wishes to start pig keeping.
Mr. De la BèreDoes my right hon. Friend not appreciate the gross hardship to these men, who have done many years of loyal and devoted service to the country and are unable to supplement the very small pensions they have got? Will he not make some endeavour to give more feeding-stuffs, to enable them to supplement their small pensions?
Mr. HudsonThat is so; but I also am aware that many pig and poultry keepers, including many disabled men from the last war, are suffering great hardship, through our inability to supply them with feeding-stuffs. It would not be equitable to provide rations for newcomers, even if they are ex-Service men.