§ Mr. Bakerasked the Minister of Agriculture if be will now make it possible for newly-established small poultry keepers and backyard poultry keepers to obtain a ration of feedingstuffs irrespective of the number of head of poultry.
Mr. T. WilliamsNo. For the reasons given in the statement on feedingstuffs rations which my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary made to the House on 22nd March there is no hope of any improvement upon the present rationing arrangements for small and domestic poultry keepers.
§ Mr. Remnantasked the Minister of Agriculture what is the estimated quantity of feedingstuffs and cost in a year required to issue rations for a third pig to pig club members; and the estimated weight of pig meat that would result.
Mr. T. WilliamsWe do not know how many pig club members are keeping54W two pigs at present, but if all the present members of pig clubs were able to keep three pigs each all the year round, the extra annual commitment for rationed feedingstuffs would be about 160,000 tons a year, which at present controlled prices would cost about £5 million. The resulting extra quantity of pigmeat in a year would be between 40,000 and 50,000 tons.