§ Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what answer he has made to representations made to him by the farming industry about his proposals to alter the present Sire Licensing Inspectorate system.
§ Mr. PriorI shall shortly be meeting the organisations concerned for a further discussion on the future of bull licensing. Most of the organisations concerned with boar licensing are in agreement with the proposal to bring licensing to an end.
§ Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the net cost of the Sire Licensing Inspectorate after taking account of the increased licence fees paid by stock owners;
(2) whether he has obtained the views of agricultural representative organisations on the willingness of stock owners to pay such further increased license fees as would be required to make the present Sire Licensing Inspectorate system financially self-supporting;
(3) to what levels licensing fees require to be raised to make the present Sire Licensing Inspectorate system financially self-supporting.
§ Mr. PriorIt is not possible to indicate precisely what is the net cost of the sire licensing arrangements without a detailed review of the costs involved. This review has been held over pending the outcome of the general consideration which is being given to the future of sire licensing. But undoubtedly there is a considerable shortfall between fee receipts and costs. A substantial increase in fees would be required to make the sire licensing arrangements self - supporting. The organisations concerned with bull breeding have told me that bull owners would be prepared to pay higher fees for licences. Most of the organisations concerned with boar breeding favour abolition of the licensing arrangements.