§ 51. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Food if he has considered how far the restrictions on the keeping and slaughtering of pigs can be removed so as to lessen the work of form filling by producers and form checking by local food offices.
§ Mr. StracheyYes, Sir, but the registration of pigs for domestic consumption has proved essential to prevent abuses. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a similar question by the hon. and gallant Member for Petersfield (Sir G. Jeffreys) on 8th November, 1948.
§ Mr. HurdWill the Minister look at this again and take the advice of the National Farmers Union and the Small Pig Keepers Council to see if it really is not possible to free more of this labour for productive work for producing more pork and bacon?
§ Mr. StracheyI have some of the forms in front of me here, and I cannot see that to fill them in is a very terrible ordeal.
§ Mr. David RentonIs the Minister aware that the self-suppliers' figures have been further increased by his Department's refusal to re-license a number of slaughterers who were killing self-suppliers' pigs, with the result that the pigs have had to travel much too far to reach the nearest licensed slaughter house? Will he look into that matter as well?
§ Mr. StracheyIf the hon. Member will give me a particular instance I will certainly look into it.