§ 33. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Food to state the comparative figures for bacon consumption during the last 12 months compared with corresponding periods in 1951 and 1950; the percentage increase this last 12 months compared with the earlier periods; and by how much this increased consumption raises the bacon subsidy liability in a full year.
§ Major Lloyd George546,000 tons of bacon were sold for domestic and catering use in the 12 months ended October, 1953. 395,000 tons and 447,000 tons were sold in the comparable periods in 1951 and 1950. The sales in the 1953 period were 38 per cent. greater than in 1951 and 22 per cent. greater than in 1950. Owing to changes in both procurement and selling prices during these years, the amount of the bacon subsidy has fallen from about £44 million in the financial year 1951–52 to an estimated £14 million in the current financial year.
§ Mr. NabarroAre not these thoroughly satisfactory figures? Do they not reveal the fact that, notwithstanding the big increase in bacon consumption, the cost of the subsidy to the taxpayer has already been cut by no less than 70 per cent.?