asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will allow rabbit clubs to be set up on the same lines as the grey squirrel clubs, so that members can obtain free cartridges for the destruction of this pest.

The two problems are different. Shooting is almost the only effective method available for destroying grey squirrels and their carcases have no value. Rabbits can be more efficiently killed by trapping and gassing while the meat and skin have a significant value. I could not agree, therefore, to the provision of free cartridges for their destruction.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the additional supply of home grown feedingstuffs that has resulted in 1952 from special measures initiated by Her Majesty's present Government; what further increase is planned for 1953; and how far this is estimated to be sufficient to abolish feedingstuffs' rationing.

Following the first scheme of ploughing grants, there was an increase of some 300,000 tons in the home production of barley, oats and mixed corn at the last harvest. There is no precise objective for 1953, but I hope to see substantial progress towards the objectives of an extra million acres of tillage (including a substantial proportion under course grains) by 1956. As regards the last part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Wiley) on the 3rd December.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to state the pig population of the United Kingdom, back-yard and otherwise, at the latest convenient date, compared with one year and two years earlier; and what steps he is taking to secure further increases in the pig population of the United Kingdom in 1953.

The estimate for September, 1952, is 5,790,000 pigs compared with 5,070,000 in 1951 and 3,790,000 in 1950. Further increases will largely depend on greater supplies of home-grown feedingstuffs, increased production of which is being encouraged by such means as grants towards the ploughing-up of grassland and the application of fertilisers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made by his department in investigating the use of antibiotics for fattening pigs; what influence this recourse is having on pig rearing; and what estimate he has made of the anticipated increase in supplies of bacon, ham and associated products that may be expected from increased use of antibiotics during the course of 1953.

The Agricultural Research Council is conducting trials of certain antibiotics in the diet of fattening pigs. Though the trials are not yet complete, an announcement by the Council indicates a strong probability that the results will be favourable. The use of antibiotics by farmers for feeding pigs would require amendment of the Penicillin Act, 1947. As for the last part of the Question, I could not attempt at this stage to make any estimate of the results likely in 1953.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many collectors of swill are still processing it otherwise than at approved central plants, with comparable figures for the last few years.

The following table gives for the past four years the numbers of collectors of swill who operated their own boiling plants and who were licensed to collect in areas scheduled under the Kitchen Waste (Licensing of Private Collectors) Orders:

1949	…	…	…	4,150
1950	…	…	…	4,470
1951	…	…	…	4,749
1952	…	…	…	4,763

The increases shown were caused by the extension of control of private collections to additional areas. I have no information as to the number of farmers and others who collect swill in unscheduled areas.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to set out in tabular form the average wages paid in the agricultural industry in 1930, 1940, 1945 and 1951;

ENGLAND AND WALES
Year June-May				Average Minimum Wage* Rate per Week		Estimated Farmers' Expenditure on Labour†	Numbers of Workers‡
				s.	d.	£ miillion	'000 workers
1929–30	…	…	…	31	8	(not available)	755·5
1939–40	…	…	…	35	9	57	607·5
1944–45	…	…	…	66	2½	130½	755·1
1950–51	…	…	…	97	3	193	722·7
1951–52	…	…	…	105	0	202½	704·2
						(provisional)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made towards implementing the recommendations of the Gowers Committee regarding conditions in offices; whether he has yet circulated draft proposals to representative organisations for their consideration; and how far these proposals are confidential.

Draft proposals for legislation based on the Gowers Committee's recommendations were circulated to interested organisations at the beginning of October. They are not confidential.