§ 64. Sir Waldron Smithersasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will set up an impartial committee, with an independent chairman, at which witnesses can give evidence on oath, to investigate why, ignoring transit shrinkage, pigs killed at Government slaughter-houses give a better dead weight return than those killed at bacon factories?
§ Mr. MabaneThis question is in effect identical with the one my hon. Friend 1929 put to me on 6th August last. I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave then.
§ Sir W. SmithersWhy is the Ministry so reluctant to adopt this simple method of removing the sense of grievance and injustice which is prevalent among many pig producers and thus encourage the maximum pig production?
§ Mr. MabaneMy hon. Friend knows that this matter has been investigated very fully, and in the light of the facts before the Department there appears to be no useful purpose to be served by the action he proposes.
§ Sir W. SmithersIs the Minister aware that it has never been investigated by an independent committee but only by officers of the Ministry?
§ 65. Sir W. Smithersasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why are pigs excepted from the rule applicable to other livestock that his Department takes them over at the live weight at the place where they come into the Ministry's possession?
§ Mr. MabaneI would refer my hon. Friend to the full reply given by my predecessor to my hon. Friend the Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Glenvil Hall) on 29th January, 1941.