asked the Minister of Food how many licences to slaughter pigs were issued by his Department to backyard pig owner consumers during 12 months ended on the latest convenient date; how many pigs were so slaughtered; whether he will now relax the appropriate Regulations in order to stimulate backyard pig production and increase food supplies; and whether he will make a statement.

In the year to 29th February, 1952, 381,358 licences were issued to slaughter 387,424 pigs. After careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that the Regulations do not go beyond what is necessary in the public interest, and do not deter those who want to keep pigs.

Would my right hon. and gallant Friend not be prepared to give more ample recognition to this noble and prolific character, the backyard pig, which is capable of making a much greater contribution to household food supplies than it is making at present? The reason it is not making a greater contribution is because of my right hon. and gallant Friend's restrictions on its slaughter.

I cannot quite accept the latter part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question. As a matter of fact, we do recognise the importance of the part that the backyard pig producers play, because, of the total number of pigs in this country, one-eighth belong to the backyard pig producers, and we do everything we possibly can, in the circumstances that obtain today, to assist them.