§ 28. Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKEasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that practically the whole of the English York ham trade and much of the English bacon trade is carried on by Midland curers, who handle bacon of a different type to the usual Wiltshire cut; and whether, in considering the Report of the Reorganisation Commission for Pigs and Pig Products, he will take steps to adequately safeguard the interests of this section of the industry, which handles several thousand pigs per week and finds employment for large numbers of workers?
§ Major ELLIOTI am aware of the importance of the Midland curing trade and can assure my hon. Friend that due regard will be paid to all relevant factors in any action taken by the Government upon the report of the Reorganisation Commission.
§ 34. Mr. REMERasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will now publish the Report of the National Pig Council?
§ Major ELLIOTI assume that my hon. Friend refers to the Report of the Pig Industry Council which was presented in January last. This report has throughout been regarded as confidential. It was placed before the Reorganisation Commission which has recently reported and no circumstance has arisen which appears to me to afford any real justification for departing from my predecessor's decision not to arrange for publication.
§ Mr. REMERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that no member of the council regards the document as confidential? Is he aware that there are many people in this country who know perfectly well what is in the report?
§ Major ELLIOTIt was addressed to the Minister and the Minister regards it as confidential. It has been fully considered, and its conclusions, in so far as they were relevant, incorporated in the commission's report, which has been widely published.
§ Mr. REMERIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that his predecessor showed a copy of the report to representatives of the Farmers' Union?