§ 65. Mr. Leonardasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster the total personnel of the bacon and ham branch of the Ministry of Food, giving a separate figure for staff appointments; and the number of curers who will qualify for a licence to cure bacon?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonExclusive of civil servants the personnel of the bacon and ham branch comprises 136 salaried officers and 225 officers who are paid 218 weekly. The number of curers who will qualify for a licence to cure bacon is 222.
§ Mr. LeonardCan the right hon. Gentleman state how many civil servants are involved, and whether he personally has determined that it is necessary for 361 persons to be supervising the work of 222 firms?
§ Mr. MorrisonWith regard to the first part of the Supplementary Question, the hon. Member will realise that very frequently civil servants are engaged in more Departments than one. As to the second part of the question, the duty of this branch is not only to look after the curers, but to manage the whole business of imports of bacon and ham and their distribution throughout the country.
§ Mr. LeonardIs it not the case that the actual application of this is in the hands of the personnel of 222 firms?
§ Mr. MorrisonNo, Sir.
§ 66. Mr. Leonardasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representation did the small curer class have on the Bacon Board; and to what extent is this class represented on the bacon and ham branch of the Ministry of Food?
§ Mr. MorrisonFour persons were elected to the Bacon Marketing Board by the class of curer defined as "small" in the terms of the Bacon Marketing Scheme. No member of the staff of the bacon and ham branch is included as a representative of any class of curer.
§ Mr. LeonardIs it not the case that the personnel of this department is drawn from the Bacon and Pigs Board, and is it not possible, therefore, that the guidance which the right hon. Gentleman receives excludes the interests of the small curers?
§ Mr. MorrisonI do not think that is the case. It is true that, in order to avail ourselves of the best trade advice on an important matter such as this, we have got the assistansce of men who have been in the industry, but there is no tendency at all to overlook the claims of small curers.
§ 67. Mr. Leonardasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is aware that the conditions under which licences to cure bacon to be granted by 219 the bacon and ham branch of the Ministry of Food are so designed, in regard to quantity limits of past production, as to debar the small curer class of bacon-curers who were licensed by the Bacon Development Board, and who numerically consist of two-thirds of the registered curers, from curing any bacon; and what steps he is taking to prevent this discrimination?
§ Mr. MorrisonThe conditions under which licences to produce bacon, under the Bacon (Licensing of Producers) Order, are to be granted do, with a few exceptions, debar holders of small curers' licences under the Bacon Industry Act from producing bacon. It is, however, proposed to provide supplies of bacon to all curers, who are unable to obtain a licence, in sufficient quantities to meet the requirements of their customers under the bacon rationing scheme.
§ Mr. LeonardIn view of the fact that there have been excluded from this activity approximately 440 firms, does not the right hon. Gentleman think it is desirable that those firms should have some place in the activities of the department at present?
§ Mr. MorrisonThey have this place, that their power to distribute bacon to their own customers will be maintained.
§ Mr. PooleIs it not a fact that the operation of this regulation will put many men out of employment and many people out of business, and will not the Minister reconsider the whole scheme in view of the representations made all over the country?
§ Mr. MorrisonIt is not likely that men will be put out of business or employment by this.
§ Mr. J. MorganWhat is the small man to do with his surplus products?