HC Deb 04 April 1940 vol 359 c343W
Major Carver

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his Department has reached any decision on the conversion of straw into a useful animal feeding-stuff by treating it with caustic soda; and whether any experiments with animals are being made?

Sir R. Dorman-Smith

Experiments to determine the feeding value of straw treated with caustic soda and the possibilities of using the process on ordinary farms are at present being carried on; they include trials with animals. These experiments have not yet reached a stage which would justify me in taking a definite decision on the merits of this process.