asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will outline the following in relation to his Department's future involvement in the production and supply of parent stock to the turkey industry: (a) if the franchise agreement with a foreign company (details sup-plied) covers all strains of diamond white stock in this country; (b) when his Department will be in a position to supply the 2,000 strain parent stock to meet current demand for a heavier bird; (c) if his Department originally intended to hold the stock themselves; (d) the reason the grand-parent stock was given to a private individual without prior consultation with hatcheries and supply-farms, and (e) the duration of the franchise agreement and, if so, if it is renewable.
Written Answers. - Turkey Industry.
395.
(a) the agreement made in 1976 applies to three strains of turkeys but an informal understanding applies to the other strains produced by the company concerned; (b) limited supplies of 2,000 strain parent stock will be available from the Department in 1981; (c) at the time the agreement was made the Department retained the option either to hold the stock or to permit its import by commercial interests; (d) the arrangement referred to was made between the company concerned and the importer subject to the approval of the Minister for Agriculture, which was given; (e) the 1976 agreement is valid until 30 September 1981 but there is provision for negotiating a new five-year agreement.