§ 39. Mr. HALL-CAINEasked the Minister of Agriculture what was the estimated production of bacon in British bacon factories for the first eight months of 1936 compared with a similar period of 1935; and whether he can make any statement as to the inquiries undertaken by the Bacon Development Board with regard to the maximum capacity of the bacon factories in Great Britain as a whole?
§ Mr. W. S. MORRISONThe estimated production of bacon in bacon factories in Great Britain for the first eight months of 1936 is 1,815,600 cwt., as compared with 1,417,000 cwt. for the corresponding period of 1935. With regard to the second part of the question, I am informed that a survey is now proceeding but that the results are not yet available.
§ 40. Sir HUGH SEELYasked the Minister of Agriculture whether there has 498 been a decline or otherwise in bacon consumption since the inception of the bacon quota; and whether he is aware that the high price of bacon is prohibiting its purchase by the poorer sections of the community?
§ Mr. MORRISONDuring the past three years total supplies of bacon, and therefore total consumption, have been stabilised at approximately the average level of the six years 1925–30, as recommended by the Lane Fox Reorganisation Commission: this is a lower level of supply than the abnormal level which obtained in the glut years immediately preceding the introduction of supply-control. As regards prices, the average retail price of streaky bacon as compiled by the Ministry of Labour for cost of living statistics is lower than the prices ruling before the slump of 1931; moreover, the average retail price index for bacon in the first 10 months of this year is lower than the average for all foodstuffs.
§ 41. Sir H. SEELYasked the Minister of Agriculture how many new pig producers have entered the industry since 1932; and how many additional workers in England and Wales have been employed since the introduction of the bacon quota and the pigs marketing scheme?
§ Mr. MORRISONI regret that I. am not in possession of the details desired by the hon. Member, but, as an indication of the expansion of the pig industry, I may mention that the pig population of Great Britain has increased from 3,350,000 in 1932 to over 4,000,000 in 1936; and that the output of bacon from factories in Great Britain increased from 1,742,000 cwt. in 1934, the first complete year of the Bacon Marketing Scheme, to 2,369,000 cwt. in 1935, and that the output for 1936 is estimated at 2,880,000 cwt.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLCan my right hon. Friend give any figures of consumption comparable with those given of production?
§ Mr. MORRISONNo, I cannot give any figures of that sort without notice, but I assume that all the bacon produced is in fact consumed.
Mr. ALEXANDERIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the total bacon supply available, both home produced and imported, was lower for the last 12 499 months than the Lane Fox figures, although the population has increased?
§ Mr. MORRISONI am not aware of those facts, though I assume that there must be fluctuations in the total supply of bacon which must vary with various factors, but I think the answer which I have given shows that the measures put into force by His Majesty's Government have resulted in a greater proportion of the bacon which is in fact consumed being supplied from home sources.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLCould my right hon. Friend with adequate notice give the figures per capita of the consumption of bacon in the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. MORRISONIf my right hon. Friend will put down a question, I shall be glad to give him any information that is in my possession.
§ Mr. JAMES GRIFFITHSWill the right hon. Gentleman recommend to the Unemployment Assistance Board that the unemployed be given such allowances as will permit them to buy home-produced bacon?
§ 42. Mr. W. ROBERTSasked the Minister of Agriculture whether a consumers' committee has yet been appointed to examine the operation of the bacon quota scheme, as was provided in the Order of 1st December, 1933, under the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1933; who are the persons appointed to that committee; and what steps have been taken to protect the consumer?
§ Mr. MORRISONA consumers' committee for Great Britain was appointed on 8th December, 1933, in pursuance of Section 9 of the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1931, and this committee has been keeping under review the effect of the pigs and bacon marketing schemes on consumers. I am sending the hon. Member a list of the members of this committee. The effect which the quantitative regulation of bacon imports may have upon consumers does not come within the purview of the consumers' committee, but I understand that this matter is under consideration by the Food Council.
§ Mr. ROBERTSHas the Council made any report?
§ Mr. MORRISONNo, not yet, I understand; but it is now considering the 500 matter and may report shortly to the President of the Board of Trade, in whose Department questions affecting consumers' interests properly fall.