§ Mr. W. Robertsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will fix a value at which poultry can be sold by poultry farmers reducing their stock in accordance with his directions?
§ Mr. BoothbyAny price regulation of poultry would take the form of a prescribed maximum not minimum sale price. I do not consider this necessary at present although I am watching the1372W market carefully. In view of the strictly limited quantity of imported poultry now reaching this country poultry keepers should find no difficulty in disposing of their surplus stock at a remunerative price.
§ Major Carverasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the official warning to poultry keepers to reduce their stock by about one-third in the coming autumn owing to the shortage of feeding-stuffs, consideration has been given and, if so, with what result, to the use of any available cold-storage for a proportion of the birds thus destroyed and, but for this, placed on what would otherwise be an over-stocked market?
§ Mr. BoothbyImports of poultry are being strictly limited and in view of the demand I do not share the view implied in my hon. and gallant Friend's Question that difficulty may be experienced in disposing of these home-killed birds at remunerative prices.