HC Deb 16 June 1971 vol 819 cc103-4W
Mr. Wiggin

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost of administering the bull and boar licensing scheme during the last convenient period for which figures are available; how the cost fell between bulls and boars; and how many of each were rejected.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

The last detailed review of costs was in 1967, when those in England and Wales were estimated at £29,000 a year for bulls and £38,000 for boars. Using the same basis of assessment, the costs in the year ended 31st March, 1971 would have been about £42,000 and £52,000 respectively. The number of animals rejected for licence in that year was 760 (6.5 per cent. of applications) in the case of bulls and 2,303 (9.5 per cent.) in the case of boars.