§ Mr. Woodburnasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the condemnation of the policy at present approved of converting summer grass into hay, silage or dried grass by the lecturer in animal and dairy husbandry in Aberdeen University, details of which have been sent him; 105W and whether his scientific advisory committee are considering what advice is to be given farmers in the light of Dr. Fraser's suggestions to ensure that the best use is made of Scotland's acres and crops to produce the maximum quantity of first-class beef.
§ Mr. J. StuartThe views held on this subject by the lecturer to whom the right hon. Member refers are well known and of interest, but are by no means generally accepted. In any case his suggestions would be difficult to put into effect because cold storage facilities are not available on the necessary scale and because it is very doubtful whether the existing abattoirs could deal with the large number of fat beasts coming to market during a short spell each autumn. Moreover it would still remain desirable to make hay and grass silage for wintering the breeding cows, calves and store cattle. I therefore do not propose to ask the Scottish Agricultural Improvement Council to reconsider the expediency, under present circumstances, of producing and conserving the maximum amount of summer grass for winter feeding.