HC Deb 22 July 1937 vol 326 cc2429-30W
Sir G. Fox

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that on the inauguration of the official poultry institute scheme a Department for research into the diseases of poultry was established at Weybridge with a full-time poultry disease research officer, he can state when blood tests at rates undercutting private enterprise were first carried out; and what are the precise sections of the Acts of Parliament which permit any trading in charging for blood tests?

Mr. W. S. Morrison

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to similar questions on 8th July. The work in connection with the blood testing of poultry at the Weybridge laboratory is a normal development of the work of research and collection of information authorised by Section 2 (Sub-section 3) of the Board of Agriculture Act, 1889, which empowers the Ministry to make such enquiries, experiments and research and to collect such information as they may think important for the purpose of promoting agriculture. The work at Weybridge on this subject is self-supporting and there is no question of undercutting private enterprise. Having regard to the fact that the serious incidence of disease is one of the major difficulties of the poultry industry, it is the duty of my Department to do all that is possible to assist in the eradication of disease, and to provide blood-testing facilities at the lowest price at which the service is self-supporting.

Sir G. Fox

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state the name or names of the poultry-keepers' associations or societies, or laboratories working in conjunction with such societies, which asked him to reduce the blood-testing charge from 2d. to l½d.; and whether this reduction was intended to have an undercutting effect on the private and non-subsidised organisations offering a similar and more popular service?

Mr. W. S. Morrison

Representations were received from the Accredited Poultry Breeders' Federation, Warwickshire County Council, Harper Adams College and Bristol University urging that steps should be taken to reduce the fee of 2d. for blood-testing, so that Accredited Poultry Station Breeders might be able to have their samples tested at the lower rates generally charged to owners outside the scheme. No question as to undercutting private organisations arises, but it is important that the Ministry should continue this work in order to gain an indication of the incidence of disease and the problems of the industry.

Mr. Turton

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the International Tea Stores Company made a loss of £45,000 during the last year on their venture into poultry production; whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the losses incurred by other poultry producers during the last year; and whether he will, at an early date, take the necessary steps to secure that it may be possible to produce poultry remuneratively in Great Britain?

Mr. W. S. Morrison

I understand that a loss of the amount referred to was made, approximately half being capital loss on closing down the venture. Having regard to the wide variety of conditions under which table poultry is produced, no useful purpose would be served by an inquiry of the nature suggested in the second part of the question. As regards the third part, I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given on 19th July to my right hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Ripon (Major Hills) and to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Mathers).