§ 50. Sir Waldron Smithersasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what is the average wastage per pig between the killing centre and the bacon factory; and what percentage of wastage is the Is. 6d. designed to cover?
Major Lloyd GeorgeBacon pigs are killed at the bacon factory. The first part of my hon. Friend's Question, therefore, does not arise. The amount of Is. 6d. referred to in the second part of my hon. Friend's Question is taken, presumably, from the scale of allowances ranging from 6d. to 4s. per pig according to the distance from collecting centre to place of slaughter, made in respect of shrinkage attributable to the varying distances involved. These allowances adopted by the Ministry are on a similar basis to, but at somewhat higher rates than those in the scales determined by the Bacon Development Board before the war.
§ Sir W. SmithersIs my hon. and gallant Friend aware that experts are of the opinion that the amount of wastage 175 between the collecting centre and the killing centre should be about 2 per cent., whereas it is in fact between 5 per cent. and 6 per cent.? Who reaps the benefit; and will he make sure that it is not the bacon curer?
Major Lloyd GeorgeThere is little difference between the present procedure and that laid down before the war. The bacon pig is killed at the bacon factory, and obviously if it has to travel large distances, it suffers a loss of weight according to the weight and type of pig, the duration of the journey, and so on.
§ Sir W. SmithersWill my hon. and gallant Friend make further inquiries?