§ Mr. Leonardasked the Minister of Agriculture the result of the investigations promised to the hon. Member for St. Rollox into the utilisation of the 100,000 tons of spent tea-leaves containing 20 per cent. protein and its utilisation for animal and poultry-feeding; and is he aware that Japan is already operating on these lines with only 27,000 tons at their disposal?
Mr. HudsonI am not satisfied from inquiries which have been made that the possibilities of obtaining a valuable addition to the supply of animal feeding-stuffs from this source are such as would justify the expenditure of the labour, transport and materials which would be required for the separate collection and treatment of spent tea leaves. Apart from brief Press reports I have no information about Japanese practice in this matter.