§ 47. Mr. Crouchasked the Minister of Food if he will give an assurance that the present bacon factory capacity is sufficient to deal with the increasing production of pigs.
Dr. HillNo, Sir. Bacon factories are at the moment working to their full curing capacity and additional pigs are used for fresh pork.
§ Mr. CrouchWhat steps does my hon. Friend propose to deal with the situation? In my constituency quite a number of pigs have been transferred from the bacon factory to the pork market. This week, farmers are telling me that they have received notice that their pigs cannot be taken into the bacon factories.
Dr. HillWithin the limits of the capital investment programme something is being done. It is hoped, for example, that by the end of the year bacon curing capacity will have increased by 10 per cent. I would remind my hon. Friend of the problem created by the fact that we are now producing at home 70 per cent. more bacon than before the war.
§ Mr. CrouchCan the Minister not let more light-weight pigs go into the pork market and let us have a freer market for pork? We shall be overwhelmed with pigs when the autumn comes.