§ Sir A. Bossomasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that the long delays of up to four or five months that sometimes take place between the application for a calf subsidy and the date of inspection of the animal often result in the loss of the grant to the farmer because the first incisor tooth has been cut by the date of the inspection; and if he will take some action to put this matter right.
§ Mr. John HareI am aware that in a very few cases recently, delay in inspection of calves has resulted in the animals having cut their first incisor teeth when inspected. Every effort is being made to avoid such exceptional delays. In any case where I am satisfied that delay on the part of the Ministry's officers is the sole reason for loss of subsidy, I am willing to consider whether payment can be made exceptionally.