asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now able to give any information as to the extension of the schemes for supplying cheap milk to children of pre-school age and to expectant and nursing mothers in additional places in the Special Areas?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 10th February to my hon. and gallant Friend, the Member for Ayr Burghs (Sir T. Moore) of which I am sending her a copy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the expenditure of the Milk Marketing Board upon advertising the merits of milk is being largely countered by an advertising campaign sponsored by the British Medical Association, in which all milk which has not been treated by certain methods is stigmatised as dangerous to health; whether he is aware that statements in these advertisements are damaging the interests of farmers producing and selling milk which, though not treated by the methods favoured by the association, is accepted by the Ministry as of satisfactory quality; and whether he will recommend to the Milk Marketing Board an advertising policy which will neutralise the damage done to the industry by unsubstantiated statements sponsored by private interests?

I have no information as to whether the advertisements referred to have had the effect ascribed to them, and I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by suggesting to the Milk Marketing Board that they should change their present advertising policy, which is designed to encourage the consumption of milk generally.

Without pressing the matter further now, may I give notice, having regard to the fact that the Minister does not appear to appreciate all the repercussions of this advertising campaign, that I shall raise the matter on an early Motion for the Adjournment?

Who supplied the money for these costly advertisements? It was not the doctors.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he proposes to introduce a Bill to give effect to the proposals for the development of the Government's milk policy, as announced in Command Paper 5533 issued in July, 1937?

Legislation to give effect to the proposals contained in the Government's White Paper on Milk Policy will, I hope, be introduced shortly after the Easter Recess.

Is the Minister aware that that will be too late for the negotiations for the new contract prices this year?

No, Sir. The present position is governed by legislation extending up to the end of September next. That, therefore, covers the hon. Member's point.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps are now being taken to ensure the efficient equipping of farms with machinery in order to maintain and improve output and assist the production of home-grown foodstuffs, in view of the Government's preference for an increase in home-grown foodstuffs as opposed to food storage?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 29th April last.

What are the Government really doing to save the home market for the home farmer?

Will the Government consider the advisability of taking a national survey of the whole of the credits to agriculture, and might they not institute some far better system than the multiplicity of landlords?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give the House an assurance that legislation to deal with the pig industry will be introduced during this Session?

I hope so.

Is the Minister aware that the farmer cannot live on hope, that he has not much hope left and that something ought to be done for him?

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of actions that have been brought in Great Britain during the previous five years under the Diseases of Animals Act, 1927, for failure to report with all practical speed an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease; and what penalties were imposed?

During the past five years 18 prosecutions have been instituted in Great Britain for failure to report promptly the suspected existence of foot-and-mouth disease. Convictions were obtained in 15 cases and fines varying from £1 to £35 were imposed, with costs varying from 5s. to £10 10s. The total fines imposed amounted to £220 and the costs to £38.

How many persons had been previously prosecuted for the same offence?

I could not say, without notice, but I can tell the House that farmers and others concerned have been most vigilant in reporting cases in recent years.

Are not these fines very small compared with those that the Milk Marketing Board can impose?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the shortage of milk for manufacture has produced any decrease of cheese making in Yorkshire and Lancashire; and whether the present policy of the Milk Marketing Board is to discourage any development of this branch of activity in this country?

The decline in the total quantity of milk available for manufacture this winter, coupled with the system of allocating supplies to the more remunerative markets, has resulted in a decrease in the quantity of milk available for manufacture into cheese in the country generally, but I have no information as to the extent of the reduction in the case of Yorkshire and Lancashire cheese in particular. Further supplies are, however, now becoming available for cheese making as a result of the seasonal increase in the quantities of milk which are coming forward under the Milk Marketing Scheme. As to the last part of the question, I understand that it is not the policy of the Milk Marketing Board to discourage cheese production.

Is not that the result of their activities?

asked the Minister of Agriculture the average expense incurred owing to quarantine regulations in importing a dog of medium size into the United Kingdom?

The fees charged by veterinary surgeons in charge of quarantine kennels for the detention of an imported dog for the prescribed period of six months' quarantine and by the carrying agents for the conveyance of the dog thereto from the port of landing are matters for arrangement between the owner of the dog and the veterinary surgeon and carrying agent. They vary with the size of the dog and with the particular requirements of the owner, and it would not be possible to give a figure representing the average expense.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how the total volume of agricultural production in 1937 compared with that in 1914?

Sufficient data are not available to enable the total output of agricultural and horticultural commodities in 1914 to be measured against that of 1937. I am, however, sending to my hon. Friend a table giving such figures as are available.

Will the table appear in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

I had intended to send it only to my hon. Friend; but, if it is the general wish, I shall have much pleasure in sending it to the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the area in Glamorganshire under wheat, oats, and barley, respectively, for the years 1935, 1936, and 1937; and whether the yields are below the average for England and Wales?

As the reply involves a table of figures I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any scheme or schemes for the establishment of experimental slaughter-houses have yet been approved under the Livestock Industry Act; and, if so, what areas are covered by the schemes?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 24th February to my hon. Friend the Member for East Dorset (Mr. Hall-Caine).

Does the Minister anticipate that these schemes will be produced?

Inquiries have been made and preliminary negotiations are going on, but I am not yet in a position to say that any scheme has been formally put before the Commission.

Does the Minister feel, as the result of his present experience, that there is any real trouble with regard to the financial proposals?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how the production of barley and oats in this country in 1937 compared with that in 1914?

It is estimated that the production of barley and oats in England and Wales in 1937 was 576,000 tons and 938,000 tons respectively. The corresponding figures for 1914 were 1,184,000 tons and 1,340,000 tons respectively.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that that represents a considerable decrease as compared with the position before the War?

Yes, Sir; but I would point out that there has been an almost exactly proportionate decrease, in the first place, in the population of horses, affecting oats, and in the amount of beer consumed, affecting barley.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the proportion of feeding stuffs for livestock produced in this country and imported, respectively, in 1913 and in 1937?

It is estimated that imports constitute at the present time approximately 26 per cent. (on a starch equivalent basis) of the feeding stuffs required by the livestock population of the United Kingdom. I regret that a comparable figure for 1913 is not available.