HC Deb 05 August 1943 vol 391 cc2458-9
61. Mr. Liddall

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why bacon factories cannot accept pigs on a live-weight basis instead of the dead-weight basis as at present; and whether he is aware that the live-weight basis would result in a big increase in the pig population?

Mr. Mabane

I would refer my hon. Friend to the full reply given by my predecessor to my hon. Friend the Member for Collie Valley (Mr. Glenvil Hall) on 29th January, 1941, to which I have nothing to add.

Mr. Liddall

Does not my hon. Friend think it time that they should have been able to do something during all this period, and as he himself seems satisfied with the present position, will he state whether he relies upon the information offered by the bacon factories and pays no heed to the representations made to him on the subject by the National Farmers' Union?

Mr. Mabane

The weighing machine position is even worse now than at the time the original answer was given.