§ Sir F. FLANNERYasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the Controller of Pig Production, having regard to the surplus of household refuse to be obtained in London and other towns, and the fact that the pigs to consume the same will be largely kept in country districts, will arrange for the systematic 1656W transport from London of suitable pig-food; and whether he can state, as a guide to farmers and cottagers, the approximate date upon which supplies of food from household refuse in towns will be available?
§ Mr. PROTHEROThe whole question of the disposal of waste materials for pig feeding is being dealt with by the National Salvage Council, with whom the Director of Pig Production is in frequent communication. When it is certain that there will be a surplus of such materials after the full pig-feeding requirements of the towns themselves have, been met, the, question of arranging for transport to country districts will at once be taken up with the proper authorities.
§ Sir F. FLANNERYasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the attention of the Controller of Pig Production has been called to a resolution recently passed by the. Braintree and District Branch of the National Farmers' Union to the effect that the farmers be permitted to use a portion of the barley crop grown in J918 for their live stock, and that the farmers are. unwilling to grow barley and be compelled to sell their whole crop at £ 16 per ton and buy inferior pig food at £ 23 per ton; and whether, in the interests of pig production, already so dangerously reduced, he will recommend through his Department a. modified Regulation as recommended by the National Farmers' Union?
§ Mr. PROTHEROThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As to the second part, the Board are not prepared to accept the statement that the only alternative pig food is an inferior article at £ 23 per ton, nor to ask the Food Controller to make any further concession than the one he has already made in the matter, namely, that a farmer who complies with all the cultivation Orders served upon him by the Agricultural Executive Committee may grow any crop, except wheat, on any additional permanent grass land he ploughs up, and use it for feeding his own stock, provided he makes previous application to the Executive Committee for a special cultivation Order for the particular additional land.