§ 28. Mr. Wadeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has yet received a Report from the Reorganisation Commission for Pigs and Bacon.
§ The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Heathcoat Amory)No, Sir. I am informed that the Commission is at present engaged in hearing evidence from the many organisations concerned with pig and bacon marketing.
§ Mr. WadeIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that when housewives complain, as they do, about the high cost of bacon, it is difficult to satisfy them with the statement that they must await the report of the Reorganisation Commission for Pigs and Bacon? Would the Minister agree that pigs have not proved very amenable to Government planning, and does he consider this the fault of the pigs or the planners?
Mr. AmoryI think that probably the fault is the principle of Government planning. The Commission started hearing evidence only in September; this is a most important matter, and I feel that I can leave it with confidence to the chairman to arrange his programme.
§ Mr. WilleyCan the Minister say for how much longer he will allow the appalling bacon muddle to continue?
Mr. AmoryIt would be quite inappropriate for me to deal with that question in answering the Question on the Order Paper.