HC Deb 30 November 1950 vol 481 cc1313-4
46. Mr. Thomas Reid

asked the Minister of Agriculture what were the numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry when his expansion programme was started in 1947; and what they are now.

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Thomas Williams)

As the answer contains a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Reid

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there has been a very great increase in the number of livestock since that date?

Mr. Williams

Yes, Sir, there has been a very large increase in each case.

Mr. Baldwin

In view of the heavy stock losses during the winter of 1946–47, could the right hon. Gentleman include a comparison with 1946 as well as a comparison with 1947, which gives rather an exaggerated view of the increase since that date?

Mr. Williams

That only applies to sheep. The 1947 figures we have given are for before that disaster.

Following is the statement:

NUMBERS OF CATTLE, SHEEP, PIGS AND POULTRY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AT SEPTEMBER IN THE YEARS 1947 AND 1950 (a)
September 1947 (000 September 1950 (provisional) (000)
Cattle (including calves) 9,650 10,501
Sheep (including lambs (b) 15,795 18,518
Pigs 1,761 3,326
Poultry (c) 45,511 62,114
  1. (a) Numbers returned as on agricultural holdings exceeding one acre in Great Britain and of 1¼ acre or more in Northern Ireland.
  2. (b) The corresponding figure in September, 1946, before the losses due to blizzards in February and March, 1947, was nearly 19 millions.
  3. (c) Great Britain only: poultry figures are not collected in Northern Ireland in September. On a United Kingdom basis there was an increase from 70,006,000 in June, 1947, to 95,986,000 in June, 1950. The increase has consisted almost wholly of fowls.