§ 45. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Minister of Agriculture what is the present population of horses and what was it in 1938; and at the same rate of decrease when will horses be extinct in this country.
The Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Thomas Williams)The total number of horses on agricultural holdings in the United Kingdom in 1948 was 703,000, that in 1938 was 1,101,000. I see little risk of the horse becoming extinct in this country in the foreseeable future. For certain purposes horses have an advantage over mechanical power.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas MooreWould not the right hon. Gentleman consult with his right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, before she leaves the Chamber, with a view to her Department supplying us with some more stringy Argentine beef, rather than that we should see the horse population continue to be lessened in this way?
Mr. WilliamsI should not have thought that the hon. and gallant Gentleman was worried by a lot of horse meat.
§ Sir T. MooreOh, yes; I queue up for it.