§ 18. Mr. Gerald Nabarroasked the Minister of Food how many licences were issued for slaughtering backyard pigs in 1949 and how many licences in 1951; and what was the increase or decrease, expressed per cent., of such licences comparing 1951 with 1949.
§ Major Lloyd George721,862 in 1949 and 366,157 in 1951, a drop of about 49 per cent.
§ Mr. NabarroCan my right hon. and gallant Friend say why it is that, whereas the pig population as a whole has increased by 50 per cent. between 1949 and 1951, the number of slaughterings of 1416 backyard pigs has declined by 50 per cent.? Why is it that successive Ministers of Food discriminate against the backyard pig and will not give him his just position?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeAs a matter of fact the greatest part of the increased pig population comes from the small man, and the only explanation I can offer is that the increase in the cost of pigs has been very substantial in the last few years; the increased cost of feedingstuffs has been about £15 a ton.
§ Mr. NabarroWould my right hon. Friend look at the backyard pig again? Surely it represents a very important potential increase in the supply of meat if only one pig per family can be raised?
§ 19. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Food whether he will state the bacon consumption per head of human population of the United Kingdom in 1939 compared with the current ration, both expressed weekly; what part of the current bacon ration is attributable to increases in the pig population during the last two years; and what figure of pig population in the United Kingdom it will be necessary to reach in order to de-ration bacon.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeIncluding bacon used by manufacturers, canteens and caterers, the pre-war consumption per head weekly was 6.4 ounces compared with 5.7 ounces now. Of this nine-tenths of an ounce is attributable to increased home production since March, 1950. Bacon factories are now working to capacity and increased numbers of pigs reared in the United Kingdom will increase our fresh meat supplies.
§ Mr. NabarroIs the limitation, therefore, upon further increases in the pig population the capacity of bacon factories, or is the sky the limit still with the increasing pig population? What is the restricting factor, if any?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThere is no limit, and we have a long way to go yet to get back to pre-war consumption of pork
§ Mr. NabarroHave we enough bacon factories to deal with it?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeBacon factories are working pretty near to capacity, but there are arrangements in hand in some cases to increase that capacity.
§ Mr. WebbSince the right hon. and gallant Gentleman frequently tries to ride off shortages of food by reference to alleged failure on the part of his predecessor, would he on this occasion at least announce to the country that the existence of pork in this country in large quantities is due to the decisions and arrangements made by the previous Government?
§ 27. Mr. W. F. Deedesasked the Minister of Food, in view of the serious delays which foot-and-mouth disease restrictions have imposed in Kent on sending pigs for slaughter to London where many have to go, of the proximity of the eastern part of the county to the Continent which makes it specially susceptible to foot-and-mouth outbreaks, and of the rapidly expanding pig population for which existing slaughterhouse facilities are inadequate, if he will reconsider the proposals for the construction of a slaughterhouse at Ashford.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI fully appreciate all the considerations in this matter, but the limitation on new building works prevents approval being given for the building of a new slaughterhouse at Ashford. We are, however, building nine new slaughterhouses in districts where additional slaughtering capacity is most urgently needed, and one at Canterbury is expected to be completed by the autumn.
§ Mr. DeedesCan my right hon. and gallant Friend give any idea when they will be ready? Is he aware of the considerable inconvenience and delay experienced now as a result of foot-and-mouth outbreak restrictions and the fact that a very large number of pig producers are being seriously held up in the delivery of pigs as potential bacon and pork to the factories?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI have every sympathy with the people who are being held up because of foot-and-mouth disease, but I am sure my hon. Friend will appreciate that it would not be possible to have arrangements to meet all contingencies that might arise. I hope, however, that this new slaughterhouse will be ready by the end of October.
§ 28. Mr. Deedesasked the Minister of Food the weekly capacity of Lenham, Kent, bacon factory for slaughtering and curing pigs, respectively.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI do not think it would be appropriate for me to give information of this kind which relates to a privately owned factory.