Mr. Guestasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the expenditure of the Cattle Commission for the first 12 months of operation under the Livestock Industry Act is likely to be something under £4,000,000; and whether he proposes that any steps should be taken to ensure that such assistance shall be more nearly approximate to the £5,000,000 which was promised when that Act was under consideration by Parliament?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonI am aware that, during the first 12 months' operation under the Livestock Industry Act, expenditure on Cattle Subsidy was slightly over £4,000,000. Rates of subsidy prescribed from time to time take account of the market situation, within the maximum total expenditure laid down in the Act. Revised Subsidy Regulations, which came into force on 1st July, 1938, allow a greater proportion of animals to obtain the quality rate of subsidy, and it is estimated that at present subsidy payments are at the rate of about £4,300,000 per annum.