HC Deb 23 July 1924 vol 176 cc1339-40W
Major CHURCH

asked the Minister of Agriculture why his Department was not directly officially represented at the conference of cattle breeders held at Edinburgh from 7th to 12th July, at which many important matters, including the future of the pedigree cattle export trade, were discussed, and in view of the fact that the conference was considered of sufficient importance by the United States of America Department of Agriculture, the Scottish Board of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Agriculture for Northern Ireland for these bodies to send official representatives?

Mr. SMITH

The dates for this conference were fixed without communication with the Ministry, and on these dates several official and international conferences had been arranged at which the Ministry's technical officers were required to attend.