HC Deb 03 May 1951 vol 487 cc1416-7
48. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the present population of horses: and how this compares with 1938.

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Thomas Williams)

The number of horses on agricultural holdings in the United Kingdom at June, 1950, was 549,000 compared with 1,100,000 in June, 1938. Of these, 396,000 were used for agricultural purposes in 1950 and 748,000 in 1938.

Mr. Dodds

Does not my right hon. Friend think that, at the present rate, in 10 years from now, the horse will be almost as scarce as the hansom cab is today? Will he do something about it?

Mr. Williams

Perhaps my hon. Friend is not aware that, quite recently, the Ministry completed a film showing the work that can be done on a farm by a horse as an auxiliary to a tractor.