§ 50. Mr. T. Williamsasked the Minister of Agriculture how many bacon factories were in active operation on the last date for which figures are available, with their throughput capacity; and how these figures compare with the number of factories in operation when the Pigs and Bacon Reorganisation Commission issued their report?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonThe total number of licences for bacon production in Great Britain issued by the Bacon Development Board as at 31st December last was 819. This figure includes the premises of a large number of small curers, mainly curer-retailers, whose output in the aggregate is small, and in respect of which it is not possible to state the total capacity. Omitting such premises, there are 213 factories in operation, with an estimated aggregate capacity of 3.9 million cwt. per annum. Comparative figures relating to the number and capacity of factories in operation at the date of the report of the Reorganisation Commission are not available.