§ 52. Mr. Peytonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the recent drop in the price of grade A bacon, if he will make a statement on pig prices.
§ Mr. John HareRecent developments in the bacon market have inevitably affected the price of pigs sold for bacon production, but up to the week ended 5th January the guarantees have brought the average return of pig producers as a whole for the current financial year to within 1d. per score of the standard price. The average return for pigs sold to bacon factories during that period was 1s. 5d. per score or about 3 per cent. below, and for other pigs 1s. 4d. per score above, the average for all pigs. I hope that the guarantee system will continue to protect producers from excessive fluctuations in their returns.
§ Mr. PeytonWhilst I fully appreciate the great difficulties of this problem, which are long-term and traditional, would my right hon. Friend appreciate the fact that there is anxiety at the lack of stability in the market, and would he consider any representations made to him on behalf of the pig producers?
§ Mr. HareCertainly, Sir. I can assure my hon. Friend that I will consider any representations, though this does not 31 mean that I shall necessarily agree with those representations.
§ Mr. LiptonBut have not the Government already decided to cut the guarantees for pig prices to the maximum possible extent in the forthcoming Price Review?
§ Mr. HareIt would be most improper if the Government had decided that, because the Price Review negotiations have not yet even begun.