§ Mr. Studholmeasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of a proposal to ship 1,600 Canadian wild ponies to this country with a view to letting them loose on Dartmoor to interbred with Dartmoor ponies; whether, in view of the importance of maintaining the breed, he will refuse to approve an import licence for these ponies to be used for such purpose; and if he will immediately consult the Dartmoor Pony Society on the steps to be taken.
Mr. T. WilliamsI have received no such proposal nor have the Board of48W Trade received any application for a licence to import Canadian wild ponies. I would not in any event recommend the granting of import licences unless I were satisfied after inquiry that the import of the ponies would not affect adversely the breed of Dartmoor pony.