§ 53. Sir John Mellorasked the Minister of Agriculture what expense he incurred with regard to pigs in purported pursuance of the Improvement of Live Stock (Licensing of Bulls) Act, 1931, before 24th October, 1949, the date appointed by Statutory Instrument, 1949, No. 1895, for the application of the said Act to pigs as to cattle; and by what authority he incurred this expense.
Mr. T. WilliamsThe expenditure incurred up to 23rd October, 1949, in administering the Improvement of Livestock (Licensing of Boars) (England and Wales) Regulations, 1945, cannot be ascertained exactly because the work formed part only of the duties of the Ministry's livestock husbandry officers, 1397 but I estimate that it did not exceed a total of £10,000. This expenditure was incurred under Section 12 of the Improvement of Live Stock (Licensing of Bulls) Act, 1931; Section 6 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1944, and the regulations made under those Acts.
§ Sir J. MellorWill the Minister agree that this legislation had no application in effect until the appointed day? What day was appointed before 24th October of this year?
Mr. WilliamsThe day appointed was the day appointed previously under the Improvement of Livestock (Licensing of Bulls) Act, 1931.
§ Sir J. MellorWill the Minister say what that date was?
§ Mr. John PatonMay I ask if the bulls referred to were of Irish origin?