§ Mr. Mathersasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (1) what quantities of imported and home-grown grain are allowed for consumption by horses normally used for racing and hunting purposes; and what percentages these quantities represent as compared with the last pre-war year;
(2) what quantities of imported and home-grown grain arc allowed for consumption by racing pigeons; and what percentages these represent of pre-war consumption.
Major Lloyd George,pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 10th April, 1941; Col. 1713, Vol. 370] supplied the following statement
It is not possible to give any figures of current annual consumption by race horses and hunters owing to the rapid changes in numbers and the variations in ration scales. The quantity of home-grown imported grain and other cereal foods allowed for race horses amounted in the month of May to 386 tons. This is estimated to be about 17½per cent. of the average monthly quantity consumed before the war. No rations were provided in May for hunters but the total "quantity of cereal foods allowed for in hunt stables in April was about 78 tons or approximately 10 per cent. of pre-war figure. The maximum quantity of imported or home-grown grain and maple peas that will be allowed for consumption by racing pigeons when the National Pigeon Service reaches its full permitted strength, will be about 7,400 tons per annum. Whilst definite figures of pre-war consumption are not available, this figure is estimated to represent about 16 per cent, of the pre-war usage.