§ Captain Kerbyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will give the total cost to date, including the purchase price, cost of sterilisation, erection of new buildings, conversions, salaries and wages, of the Poultry Progeny Station at Killinghall; what is the purpose of this and its three sister establishments; and where the latter are situated;
(2) the estimated annual cost of maintenance of the Poultry Progeny Station at Killinghall; and to what extent these costs are to be recovered from the egg subsidy.
Mr. AmoryThe total estimated capital cost for the Killinghall station, including equipment, is £147,000.
45WThe purpose of the four progeny testing stations in Great Britain, which are operated as part of the poultry stock improvement plan, is to provide facilities for the identification of high quality foundation poultry breeding stock and so to promote increased efficiency of egg production. The sister establishments are at Church Eaton, Stafford; Great Bookham, Leatherhead; and Milton Bridge, Penicuik, Midlothian.
The estimated net cost of running the Killinghall station in the current financial year (the first year of operation) is £13,000, which will be borne by the Exchequer. It is expected that the net running cost will be reduced in subsequent years. The initial capital cost of the four stations is being recovered from the poultry industry, in agreement with the National Farmers' Unions, by a reduction in the payments made under the guarantee arrangements for hen eggs.