HC Deb 15 November 1954 vol 533 cc14-6
25. Mr. Collins

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the losses to farmers on bacon pigs which are slightly overweight, he will introduce a graduated price scale for pigs exceeding 170 lb. deadweight.

Dr. Hill

No, Sir. Prices of bacon pigs are now determined in commercial negotiations between the producers and curers.

Mr. Collins

Is the Minister aware that the difference between 169 lb. and 171 lb. deadweight of pig means a loss of £7 to many of the farmers? Will he not look into this matter again? If he cannot do anything about it, perhaps he will find a few running tracks to enable the pigs to get a few pounds off them before they weigh in?

Dr. Hill

The present position is that the pork market has strengthened and prices being obtained on the pork market now compare favourably with prices paid by the bacon curer.

Mr. Bullard

Will my hon. Friend pay not too much attention to the representations of the hon. Gentleman opposite? Is he aware that farmers are very anxious to produce the article the consumers require, and that if they are paid a good price for the article that is wanted, they are quite willing to suffer a penalty for producing an article which is not wanted?

32. Mr. Collins

asked the Minister of Food the percentage of bacon pigs which factories have declined to accept because of insufficient quality during the latest convenient three-months' period.

Dr. Hill

This is a commercial matter between the bacon curers and their suppliers, but I will ask the interests concerned to send the hon. Gentleman such information as they can.

Mr. Collins

Is the Minister aware that, in reply to a supplementary question which I put to him last week, his right hon. Friend said that it was quality which was cutting down the number of pigs entering the factories? At what point is the quality decided?

Dr. Hill

The present position is that bacon factories are able to take all the pigs which are offered.

Mr. Crouch

Is my hon. Friend aware that last week one of our local bacon factories had 90 per cent. Grade A pigs?

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that pig producers throughout the country are still very gravely dissatisfied with the Government's conduct over the whole of this situation? Has he had no complaints from the National Farmers' Union about it?

Dr. Hill

There had been complaints about the difficulty in the acceptance of bacon pigs by bacon curers, but the Government were not responsible for the circumstances leading to those complaints.