§ 30. Mrs. Mannasked the Minister of Food what increase has been authorised in the price of bacon which was sold at 4s. 2d. per lb. before 5th October.
Dr. HillThe only type of bacon priced at 4s. 2d. before 5th October was Ayrshire gammon sold without the skin. The increase was 1s. 8d. per lb., in line with the arrangements for sale of cooked gamman free of subsidy and off the ration.
§ Mrs. MannIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the reply given by his right hon. and gallant Friend in the OFFICIAL REPORT last week stated that the price of bacon, 2s. 7d. weighted average, had gone up to 3s. 10d. weighted average and that in fact Ayrshire bacon had gone up from 3s. 4d. per lb. to 5s. 10d. per lb. in one year? How can he justify these figures which appear in the OFFICIAL REPORT?
Dr. HillThis increase in one of the items within the bacon field follows the decision to release cooked gammon from control and from the ration. This release has been widely appreciated. It became necessary to relate the price of the uncooked to the cooked.
§ Mr. LoganWith regard to the price of 4s. 2d. per lb., is the new calculation in the hon. Gentleman's Department now on 14 oz. to the lb.?