§ Mr. F. Willeyasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the operation of the Kitchen Waste Order, 1944, causes hardship to many small pig breeders, particularly retired and elderly persons who have been collecting waste food for many years and who cannot afford to buy processed pig food and do not require such pig food in the amounts supplied by the local authorities; and whether he will provide for a relaxation of the order to avoid such hardship.
§ Mr. T. Williams:The object of the Kitchen Waste (Licensing of Private Collectors) Orders is to limit the private collection of kitchen waste with a view of mitigating the risks of spreading animal diseases, and I am not aware of any 254W hardship caused to small pig keepers. Persons keeping not more than four weaned pigs are exempt from the operation of the Orders, and licences are normally given to other persons who were collecting kitchen waste before the war. Moreover, the keen demand for the processed waste indicates that it is regarded as an economic feeding stuff for pigs. Having regard to the purpose of the Orders I cannot agree that any further relaxation is desirable. If my hon. Friend can give me details of any case where an unreasonable limitation of the quantities supplied is imposed I will ask my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to go into the question with the processing authorities concerned.