HC Deb 14 March 1949 vol 462 cc1730-1
55. Mr. Randall

asked the Minister of Agriculture why it is intended to restrict the radius of service from the Whalley artificial insemination station.

Mr. G. Brown

I understand that the Milk Marketing Board, who operate this centre, intend to limit the service to within a radius of approximately 10 miles until such time as the centre is working satisfactorily and the extent of the demand is known. After that the service area will be developed according to need either directly from the Whalley centre or from sub-centres

Mr. Randall

Is my hon. Friend aware that this will cause considerable disappointment to the farmers in the locality; and is it not possible for substations to be set up with a minimum of equipment, and so give the service required?

Mr. Brown

Fences have to be measured before they are jumped, and what will happen here is that the scheme will be got working, the extent of the work will be known, and then sub-centres will be set up to deal with it.