HC Deb 10 January 1918 vol 101 cc320-1W
Mr. G. LAMBERT

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if, in the interest of food production, he will modify the Killing of Lamb Order, by, instead of a date limit, fixing a limit based on the minimum weight of the lambs to be. killed according to the breed?

Mr. CLYNES

The suggestion of the right hon. Gentleman would directly encourage the fattening for slaughter of lambs exceeding a certain weight, and thereby involve precisely such uneconomic use of feeding-stuffs as the Live Stock (Restriction of Slaughter) Order is designed to prevent.

Sir J. SPEAR

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he is aware that dissatisfaction is felt by flock masters at the proposals contained in the recently issued Lamb Order; that it will be the means of withholding a quantity of lamb and mutton from the use of the public at the scarcest period of the year; if he is aware that the ewes from which fat lambs are bred are old draft ewes from standing flocks, and therefore too old to be kept more than one season and must be slaughtered; is he aware that, if these lambs have to be kept as tegs, as suggested by the Ministry, they will consume food required for store draft ewes and prevent their purchase, and thus prevent the production of fat lambs the following year and destroy the market for store draft ewes from standing flocks; and will he withdraw the Order?

Mr. CLYNES

The issue of the Live Stock (Restriction of Slaughter) Order is strictly in accordance with the policy outlined by the President of the Board of Agriculture in the early summer of 1917, when he warned the farmers that the production of early lamb for this season would not be in the national interest. The only complaint received from flock masters by the Food Controller has been brought forward by the owners of Dorset horn flocks, and is about to be met by an extension of time in respect of male lambs until 1st March. The other points referred to by the hon. Member have been fully considered in consultation with the Central Advisory Committee on Live Stock and Meat Supplies. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.