asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the need for larger egg and poultry production, he will take steps to induce private landlords to permit poultry keeping by tenants under proper restrictions?

Sir J. Edmonson:

My right hon. Friend has, of course, no powers of. compulsion which would enable him to act as my hon. Friend suggests, but he feels confident that in the nation's interest private landlords will, as far as may be practicable, relax peace-time restrictions on poultry keeping; and he has taken such opportunities as he could to seek their cooperation to this end.

Will my hon. and gallant Friend convey to the Minister the suggestion that it might be useful to invoke the good offices of the county war agricultural committees, and especially of their agricultural officers in order to bring about a settlement of this question?

Will the hon. and gallant Member note a reply given to the hon. Member for Evesham (Mr. De la Bère) that if all arable farmers are allowed to retain on their farms all the cereals they produce, all poultry keepers will go out of existence?

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that 85 councils have refused to permit poultry keeping by tenants despite his recent circular, while 126 will only consider individual applications or allow poultry keeping on allotments, which, in view of the opportunities for thieving from un-fenced plots, is tantamount to a refusal; and what further steps he proposes to take?

I have no comprehensive figures showing the action taken by local authorities in the matter. I would again emphasise that the management of their estates is expressly vested by statute in local authorities, and for this reason I am not satisfied that further action on my part reiterating the suggestion I have already made would be likely to achieve the object which we have in mind.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that very little attention is paid to many of his circulars? In a matter of such urgent importance as this, would he address a personal letter to councils which are not complying with his request?

I am not sure that a personal letter would be given more attention than a circular I would not like to suggest that a circular could be safely disregarded while a letter from the Minister must be attended to.