Mr George Bowyer: The position is that the Ministry is at present reviewing the existing programme of broadcasts of agricultural market prices. Until this review is completed, the question of consulting the British Broadcasting Corporation on the subject does not arise.
Mr George Bowyer: This farm containing 685 acres came into hand at 5th April, 1931. A loss of about £1,000 was incurred during the year to 5th April, 1932, but the accounts for the year to 5th April, 1933, have not yet been completed. The farm has been advertised to let on several occasions during the past two years, but no applicant has come forward who was prepared to make an acceptable offer for it. The...
Mr George Bowyer: I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend is aware that the Great Ouse Catchment Board are contemplating making by-laws under Section 47 of the Land Drainage Act, 1930, but they have not yet been submitted to him for confirmation, and consequently no decision has been reached?
Mr George Bowyer: I can only advise my hon. Friend to have a talk with my right hon. Friend, in view of those circumstances.
Mr George Bowyer: I have been asked to reply. The position with regard to supplies of imported meat may be summarised as follows: In accordance with the arrangements made on the 7th November last, the marketing of chilled beef from South America were reduced by 10 per cent. from the 15th November to the end of the year. Arrivals for the first six weeks of the current quarter will be about 10 per cent. below...
Mr George Bowyer: The statement I have just made will be in the OFFICIAL REPORT to-morrow.
Mr George Bowyer: I will put that before the Minister.
Mr George Bowyer: The agricultural wages committees already have power under Section 2 (3) of the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act, 1924, to grant a permit exempting the employment of a worker frown payment at the minimum rates of wages fixed under the Act in cases where, on application being made, they are satisfied that the worker is so affected by any infirmity due to age or to any other cause that he is...
Mr George Bowyer: I was asked whether the Minister would exercise the powers. The powers are already in existence.
Mr George Bowyer: The scheme of agricultural machinery demonstrations conducted under the Ministry's auspices was suspended early last year, and, under present conditions, my right hon. Friend does not contemplate a revival of that scheme.
Mr George Bowyer: As the answer involves a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Mr George Bowyer: My right hon. Friend has no powers to take the action suggested. He would draw the attention of my hon. Friend to the views of the Reorganisation Commission for Milk on the subject of imports of skimmed condensed milk as set out on pages 138 and 139 of the commission's report.
Mr George Bowyer: I have been asked to reply. The musk rats in question were brought into this country in October, 1929, there being at that time no restrictions whatever on the importation and keeping of musk rats in Great Britain. Such restrictions only came into operation on the 1st May, 1932, following the making of an Order and Regulations under the Destructive Imported Animals Act, 1932. In these...
Mr George Bowyer: Various unofficial estimates of the number of musk rats at large in Shropshire have been made but they are purely conjectural. As regards remedial or preventive action, the Ministry has 27 trappers at work under expert supervision in the infested area. Catchment Boards and canal owners throughout the country have been circularised and asked to report any signs of infestation, and an...
Mr George Bowyer: I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend has been informed of the facts stated in the first part of the question. With regard to the last part, the Import Duties Advisory Committee have given public notice that they have before them an application by the British Trawlers' Federation for additional duties on foreign-caught fresh fish, and it is for the industry to furnish the Committee...
Mr George Bowyer: I want to bring to the right hon. Gentleman's attention a point about which I asked a question, and he referred me to this Debate. Under Clause 2, as far as I understand it, there are four classes of people who, under certain circumstances, may have the contributions that they have paid towards superannuation returned to them in a lump sum. There is, first, the class of men who are too old...
Mr George Bowyer: I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend's attention has been drawn to the losses referred to, and inquiries by veterinary officers of the Ministry confirm the views of the local veterinary practitioners that the disease is due to an acute mineral deficiency associated with lactation and parturition in cows. The disease is well known to veterinary surgeons in Great Britain and Western...
Mr George Bowyer: The numbers of test inspections carried out under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act during the first five months of 1931 and 1932 were 1,091 and 347, involving arrears of wages of £2,253 and £730 respectively. Part of the latter amount has only recently been claimed and has not yet been paid.
Mr George Bowyer: 22. asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any steps have been taken, in conjunction with the Empire Marketing Board, to advertise home-grown soft fruits by means of press advertisements or posters?
Mr George Bowyer: 23. asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any information as to the extent of this season's crop of home-grown soft fruits which has been dealt with by canning factories in this country?
