§ 7. Mr. WATTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the retail price of pork-bacon before the intervention of his Department was 2s. to 2s. 2d. per 1b., the bacon-curer then paying the rearer 25s. to 30s. per stone of 20 1bs. weight; whether he then fixed the price for the rearer at 18s. per stone of 20 lbs. weight or 100. per 1b., and thereafter the retailer charged, and still charges, 2s. 4d. to 2s. 6d. per 1b.; whether the intervention of his Department has achieved what it desired; and, if not, whether he will alter this fixed price, so as to prevent pig-rearing disappearing altogether from the country?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of FOOD (Mr. Clynes)The maximum price for pigs of 18s. per score of the live-weight came into operation on 8th November last. At that time the general retail price of the best cuts of bacon was from 2s. 7d. to 2s. 9d. per 1b., and in some cases even higher. Under the new Order, retailers are now charging 2s. 4d. to 2s. 6d. per lb. for selected cuts. It is thought, therefore, that the object of intervention has been achieved, inasmuch as live pigs are available at rates which enable bacon and pork to be sold at reasonable prices to the consumer.
§ Mr. LOUGHMay I ask my hon. Friend whether he does not think there is too wide a gap between the retail price of 2s. 4d. and 2s. 6d. a pound and the low price of 133s. a cwt., which is about 1s. 1d per 1b. to the producer, and whether the effect is not to greatly discourage production and helping to create famine in this country?
§ Mr. CLYNESThat gap is dependent upon the amount of profit which the retailer is permitted to make, and which must not exceed 3d. per 1b.
§ Mr. LOUGHWith a gap of as much as 1s. per 1b., must there not be middlemen of all sorts, and in various groups, getting huge profits, while the producer is getting an unremunerative price?
§ Mr. CLYNESAt present, so far as possible, we arc endeavouring to eliminate the middlemen as between the producer and the wholesaler, and the wholesaler and the retailer.
Mr. T. WILSONDoes the hon. Gentleman think that 2s. 4d. and 2s. 6d. a lb for bacon is a reasonable price?
§ Mr. CLYNESCertainly not, but, under the circumstances, if the price were put still lower, it would considerably diminish the quantity of the article available.
§ Mr. PETOCan the hon. Gentleman say why there is this difference of 9d. and 10d per lb. between what the consumer gets and the producer has to have?
§ Mr. CLYNESIt this were a Debate I could deal with the question in a way that cannot be entered up under the limitations imposed at Question Time.
§ Mr. CLYNESIt may well be that the number of pigs is fewer than it was some months ago, but it has been explained to the House that the dealing with this question is in terms of food, in the sense that the feeding of pigs takes articles fit for human consumption, and the food value of pigs is far less than is paid for it by the food value of the articles which, otherwise, would be available for human consumption.
Colonel LORD HENRY CAVENDISHBENTINCKIs it the object of the Government to reduce the number of pigs in. the country?
§ Mr. CLYNESThat may be the incidental effect of the policy we are bound to follow.
§ Mr. PETODoes the hon. Member disagree with Lord Rhondda that the pigs are 500,000 more than they were a few months ago?
§ Mr. CLYNESI have not seen that statement.