§ 49. Mr. Turtonasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will now bring forward the operating date for the increase in the farrowing sow allowance to 1st June, 1949.
Mr. T. WilliamsNo, Sir. From the breeding standpoint there was no justification for an earlier date than 1st July next. All sows farrowing before 1st July will have been mated in the expectation of the present allowance of 8 cwt. per farrowing; the additional allowance could not affect breeding of sows before the date of the announcement, namely, 19th May, 1949.
§ Mr. TurtonHas not the Minister had complaints for some considerable time of the smaller ration for farrowing sows, and as it is admitted by him that feedingstuffs are available in store in this country, will he now reconsider this matter?
Mr. WilliamsAs the hon. Gentleman must know, adequate time must be allowed for county agricultural executive committees to rearrange their rationing distribution scheme.