HC Deb 10 February 1958 vol 582 cc6-8
6. Mr. du Cann

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement regarding his meeting with representatives of the National Farmers' Union, the Fatstock Marketing Corporation and bacon curers to discuss the slump in bacon pig prices.

8. Mr. F. Willey

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on his meeting with representatives of the National Farmers' Union, the Fatstock Marketing Corporation and bacon curers about pig prices.

10. Mr. Lipton

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on bacon pig prices.

15. Commander Maitland

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has yet completed his discussions with the industries concerned in the production and sale of bacon; and if he will make a statement.

19. Mr. Beswick

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take following the representations made to him about bacon pig prices.

Mr. Godber

As my right hon. Friend is indisposed, the meeting with the representatives of the National Farmers Union, the Fatstock Marketing Corporation and the bacon curers has been postponed until Thursday this week, 13th February.

Mr. du Cann

While hoping that my right hon. Friend will soon be well again and in a position to hold this meeting, which has been so unfortunately postponed, will my hon. Friend ask him if he will take the earliest possible opportunity of making a statement in order to relieve the genuine anxiety which exists among producers at this present unhappy situation? In particular, will he bear in mind the fact that they cannot understand why British shops should be filled with imported bacon to their exclusion?

Mr. Godber

I know my right hon. Friend is very sorry that this meeting had to be delayed, but he is looking forward to meeting these delegates on Thursday this week, and he will bear in mind the points which my hon. Friend has made. I do not think it is quite true to say that the shops are entirely full of foreign bacon, as opposed to the home product. The figures do not bear out that statement.

Mr. Willey

While joining with other hon. Members in saying that everyone regrets that the Minister is not well and hopes he will be fit again as soon as possible, may I ask the Parliamentary Secretary to impress upon his right hon. Friend the urgency of reaching a decision on this matter? Is he aware that it is very disappointing that, for the second time in a few years, we have got bacon pigs into this mess again? Will he also bear in mind the question which is raised by implication—that of recognising that we shall want a list of the retail prices?

Mr. Godber

Yes, Sir. I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his remarks about my right hon. Friend. In regard to bacon pigs being in a mess, I do not think I would accept that as a description of the position. Perhaps there was too strong a demand for pork pigs in relation to bacon pigs, but I am sure the hon. Member would not wish pork pigs to be depressed accordingly.

Mr. Beswick

Can the Parliamentary Secretary give an assurance that, after seeing the representatives of the producers, and before taking any action by way of quotas or anything of that kind, the Minister will also consult the representatives of the consumers' organisations?

Mr. Godber

Obviously, I cannot say what my right hon. Friend will say as a result of these consultations, but I do not think he has any intention of making any sweeping change at present which would be detrimental to the consumer.

Mr. Lipton

Bearing in mind that the 1956 Price Review discriminated against the small man and was an imposed settlement, may I ask the Parliamentary Secretary how the Government are going to cope with the betrayal of the bacon pig producer? Will the hon. Gentleman, from his own knowledge, tell us whether we should provide more pigs this year or less? This is a very simple question, to which every pig producer wants to know the answer?

Mr. Godber

I am sorry, but the hon. Gentleman clearly did not read the White Paper on the February Price Review, as I would wish. In the last one, it was clearly stated that we thought that no more pigmeat was required, whereas, in fact, production has gone up very considerably in the intervening year. It is not true to say that the bacon producer is suffering unduly at this moment. The operation of the guarantees safeguards the producer to a very great extent.