§ 54. Mr. Baldwinasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the purchases by the Ministry of Food from producers in Great Britain in 1947 show a drop of 4,750,000 sheep and lambs and 3,750,000 pigs as compared to 1940; and what steps he proposes to take to get production back to the 1940 level.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsYes, Sir. I am satisfied that the increases in prices for fat sheep and lambs announced last August, coupled with the special measures taken in the Agricultural (Emergency Payments) Act, 1947, to assist hill sheep farmers to recover from losses caused by the severe weather in 1947, provide a sufficient incentive to farmers to expand their flocks as rapidly as practicable. Prices for fat pigs were also increased last August to a level which should encourage expansion, but larger supplies of feeding stuffs are also needed. As opportunity permits, more feeding stuffs for pigs will be provided. In the meantime, pig breeding is being encouraged by the decision to allow the retention of a percentage of barley and wheat from this year's harvest.