§ LORD STRACHIEMy Lords, I rise to put the Question standing in my name—viz., to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he will amend the Calf Order so as to exempt all bull calves from its provisions in view of the shortage of keep and of the fact that the War Office have commandeered all hay.
§ THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE)My Lords, my noble friend Lord Selborne is unable to be present to-day, and has asked me to reply to the noble Lord's Question on his behalf. The President of the Board of Agriculture has no evidence of any general shortage of keep in the country, and as the Order of the Army Council expressly provides that farmers and stock breeders are authorised to use the normal quantity of hay, or oat, or wheat straw in their possession for consumption by stock in their possession or control, he does not propose to make any amendment in the Order in question.