§ Major E. WOODasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that the value of the eggs and poultry produced in England and Wales is estimated at present prices to be about £15,000,000 per annum, and to be capable of considerable expansion, he will consider the desirability of establishing a special section of the Board, of which the officials should be practically expert in this branch of food production, and whose work would be to encourage to the fullest extent efforts on the part of county councils and county education committees to extend the business of poultry-keeping in every part of the country?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe Board are establishing a special branch to deal with poultry-keeping, and I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that, in the selection of the staff, the importance of expert qualifications will be fully recognised, and the Board are also encouraging the appointment, by County Agricultural and Horticultural Committees, of poultry instructors—of whom forty-four have already been appointed. The chief duty of these officers will be to encourage to 825W the fullest extent the development of the poultry industry in every part of the country.