§ 41. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Agriculture, in view of the substantial decline in the delivery of bacon pigs to the Ministry of Food since May, 1952, what action he is taking to rectify the situation; and what improvement can be expected in 1953.
§ The Minister of Agriculture (Sir Thomas Dugdale)The fall in the number of pigs sold to the Ministry of Food since May has been due to purely 613 seasonal causes, although they have continued on the average to be nearly 50 per cent. above last year. Deliveries are now returning to a higher level. Some increase in the numbers of breeding herds in 1953 is expected, the rate of expansion of pig products depending largely on progress in expanding the production of home-grown feedingstuffs.