§ 63. Colonel ROPNERasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that the work of the Pigs Marketing Board has been hampered by unsatisfactory control of bacon imports, he will consider imposing such a levy on imported bacon as will enable efficient pig producers to receive a standard price for their pigs from the curers sufficient to cover the cost of production and give them a reasonable profit?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI could not accept the statement that the control of imports of bacon has been unsatisfactory. Since the compulsory control of imports was introduced foreign imports each year have 1956 been within the quantities required under the scheme. The levy policy which the Government intend to introduce for bacon as soon as circumstances permit was outlined in replies to the hon. Members for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. W. S. Morrison) and Devizes (Sir P. Hurd) on 7th June and 9th December, 1935, respectively, copies of which I am sending to my hon. and gallant Friend.
§ Mr. H. G. WILLIAMSCan the Minister say why the Government are anxious to use the levy scheme when they have permitted the Danish scheme to continue which prohibits a levy scheme?