asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his Department has reached any decision on the conversion of straw into a useful animal feeding-stuff by treating it with caustic soda; and whether any experiments with animals are being made?

Experiments to determine the feeding value of straw treated with caustic soda and the possibilities of using the process on ordinary farms are at present being carried on; they include trials with animals. These experiments have not yet reached a stage which would justify me in taking a definite decision on the merits of this process.