36. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he is taking to ensure that the quota of pigs for the curers, which has been drastically reduced, shall be restored to the normal capacity?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThe determination of registered curers' bacon-production quotas is a matter for the Bacon Marketing Board, acting in accordance with the directions of the Bacon Development Board; I have no power to intervene.
Mr. De la BèreDoes my right hon. Friend realise that it is not the production of wheat but employment in the bacon-curing industry which is likely to be affected, and can he not do something to bring this matter to the notice of the bacon curers?
§ Sir R. Dorman SmithIt has been brought to their notice.
§ Mr. MacquistenIs not my right hon. Friend aware that in Northern Ireland they have abolished the bacon board as a public nuisance?
37. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will draw the 1701 attention of the Pigs Marketing Board to the desirability of allotting pigs from local producers to local curers wherever possible, in view of the fact that local curers have been allotted supplies which have had to be brought many miles by rail?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithI would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given on 2nd February to the hon. Member for East Ham, South (Mr. Barnes) and on 6th February to my hon. Friend the Member for East Dorset (Mr. Hall-Caine). The whole question of the allocation of pig contracts was recently examined by a special committee set up by the Pigs Marketing Board, and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a statement on the subject issued by the Board.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsIs not the only solution of this problem and that of the curers for the pig producers to produce more pigs?