Captain Duncanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking or has taken to prevent the slaughter for food of well-bred young stock, particularly calves and heifers, in view of the needs of this country and Europe after the war of breeding stock.
1070W
— Cities. Other Burghs. Counties (Landward Areas). Total. Houses under construction by local authorities at September, 1939. 6,680 14,850 8,636 30,166 Houses begun since September, 1939 1,645 1,456 416 3,517 Houses completed by local authorities since outbreak of war. 6,514 12,521 7,985 27,020 Houses at present under active construction. (This does not include houses begun but on which work has been suspended.) 1,018 2,166 505 3,689 119 houses have been obtained as a result of the conversion of a hostel at Milngavie.
Mr. JohnstonThe Ministry of Food certifying authorities are under instructions not to accept for slaughter good calves for which an alternative market can be secured for rearing. Special allocations of feeding stuffs are made available to farmers for the rearing of calves. I have not found it necessary to take any further steps as the number of calves being slaughtered in Scotland is not impairing our ability to maintain the cattle population. The total number of cattle last December in Scotland was higher than in any previous December since the outbreak of war.