§ Mr. Bartlettasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the farming community in the villages that are to be evacuated, in order to provide a practice battle ground for United States troops, are to have their stock taken over by the Government at current prices?
Mr. HudsonIt is not the intention of the Government to take over the livestock which will have to be evacuated, but my Department is arranging through the county war agricultural executive committee, in conjunction with the local representatives of the Ministry of Food, to render all possible assistance to farmers in connection with the disposal of their stock by sale, either as stores, or where appropriate to the Ministry of Food for slaughter. It is hoped that with the present demand for livestock farmers will not incur losses on sale, but if owing to exceptional circumstances over which he has no control, any individual farmer should suffer loss, he should get in touch with the officer of the Service Department concerned dealing with his case.