§ Colonel Carverasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give any estimate of the present number of horses on agricultural holdings in Great Britain, what has been the decline in this number during the past 10 years; whether he has become aware of any decline in the breeding of agricultural horses since the withdrawal of financial assistance for this purpose; and whether he will consider the desirability of taking steps to stimulate the production of horses in order to ensure an ample number for transport in the future, having regard to the possibility of the breakdown of mechanised transport in some parts of the country?
Mr. HudsonIn the 10 years before the war the number of horses on agricultural holdings in Great Britain fell by 12 per cent. I regret that I am unable to disclose statistics for the present year. The results of breeding in the 1940 season will not be apparent until returns are obtained next year, and it will be appreciated that breeding in 1941 and subsequent seasons is not likely to have any effect upon supplies of horses available during the war.
§ Colonel Carverasked the Minister of Agriculture (1) whether he is aware that during a recent air-raid a farmer in one of the Home counties incurred the loss of both his farm horses as a result of bomb explosions; and what action can be taken to enable such a man to obtain 1727W compensation immediately and thus replace his horses, which are urgently necessary to him for ploughing and general farm work;
(2) whether, in view of the urgent necessity of taking every possible step to safeguard and increase the production of food in this country; he will arrange for immediate compensation to be granted to farmers who, owing to air-raids, suffer the loss of horses and other animals essential to their occupation?
Mr. HudsonIn regard to the present position, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answers given to him on 16th October. As he is no doubt aware, however, a general scheme for the insurance of property, including agricultural property, against the risks of war damage is under active preparation in pursuance of the recent announcement by the Prime Minister. A farmer who in the meantime finds his ploughing and general farm work interrupted by loss of farm horses can obtain assistance under the Agricultural Requisites Assistance Scheme by application to the County War Agricultural Executive.