§ Mr. Burdenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement about his appointment of a technical committee to inquire into conditions in intensive systems of livestock husbandry and its terms of reference.
§ Mr. SoamesYes. I am glad to say that Professor F. W. Rogers Brambell, F.R.S., M.R.I.A., D.Sc, Head of the Department of Zoology at the University College of North Wales, Bangor, has agreed to be Chairman of this Committee. The following have accepted invitations from the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself to serve as members of the Committee:
D. S. Barbour, Esq., C.B.E., M.R.C.V.S.— Former Deputy Director, Veterinary Field Services, stationed in Scotland.
Lady Barnett, M.B., Ch.B., J.P.
Professor T. K. Ewer, H.D.A., B.V.Sc, Ph.D., M.R.C.V.S.—Professor of Animal Husbandry, Bristol University.
Alec Hobson, Esq., C.B.E., M.V.O.—Former Secretary, Royal Agricultural Society of England.
H. Pitchforth, Esq.—Under Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
154Wsimilar table about blackcurrant production to that which he published on 3rd July, 1963, now giving a firm figure for 1962 and a provisional figure for 1963.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsThe following table brings up to date the corresponding table published in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 3rd July, 1963:
Walter R. Smith, Esq.—Regional Director, National Agricultural Advisory Service.
Dr. W. H. Thorpe, M.A., Sc.D., F.R.S.— Reader in Animal Behaviour, Cambridge University.
F. J. W. Winship, Esq., A.R.I.C.S.—Land Commissioner, Agricultural Land Service.
The Committee's terms of reference will be "To examine the conditions in which livestock are kept under systems of intensive husbandry and to advise whether standards ought to be set in the interests of their welfare, and if so what they should be".