HC Deb 30 April 1936 vol 311 cc1081-2
57. Mr. PETHERICK

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give details of licences granted to erect or extend bacon factories by the Pig Industry Development Board, together with the dates on which they were granted?

Mr. ELLIOT

As the reply involves the statement of a considerable number of details, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. BATEY

Has not a licence been refused for the erection of a bacon factory in the county of Durham, where new industries are needed?

Mr. ELLIOT

One of the difficulties in connection with the county of Durham is, of course, that Durham has had a much larger share in the export of coal, in return for imports of bacon, than some other localities.

Mr. BATEY

Is it to be assumed that people in the county of Durham do not eat bacon?

Following is the answer:

The Bacon Development Board have supplied the following information:

Licences in relation to new premises have been granted in five cases in which a licence had not previously been held. Two of these licences were issued on 17th. December, 1935, and three on 13th January, 1936. One is in respect of premises in replacement of a factory destroyed by fire some years ago, another is for the production of hams only, a third is for the production of bacon for export or ships' stores, while the remaining two are for the production of bacon generally. In addition, the Bacon Development Board have undertaken to grant licences in respect of one new factory and the extension of an existing factory, subject to the observance of certain conditions, which are at present the subject of discussion with the applicants. In seven cases in which the applicants already held licences, the board have granted new licences, subject to the surrender of the existing ones, for the transfer of factory accommodation to new premises in order to secure greater efficiency or to meet special circumstances, and in nine cases licences have been granted for the extension or alteration of existing premises subject, inter alia, to the condition that the total productive capacity of the individual factories is not increased. In these 16 cases the licences were issued between 1st November, 1935, and 31st March, 1936.