§ 26. Mr. du Cannasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he permits pigmeat to be imported into the United Kingdom from Holland, Hungary, and Poland.
§ Mr. John HareIn accordance with our international obligations and general trade policy, the Government have removed restrictions from nearly all commodities, including pigmeat, imported from Western Europe. Imports of pigmeat from the Soviet bloc are only permitted within quotas.
§ Mr. du CannIs it not right, nevertheless, that the proportion of foreign-produced bacon consumed in this country is increasing very rapidly? Would it 548 not be right to review the situation? Could I ask my right hon. Friend to look at the situation as it stands at the moment? Will not he arrange that confidence is restored to the home producers by making it perfectly clear that he will not hesitate to control these imports if he thinks it necessary?
§ Mr. HareThat is a different question, and obviously comes into the general review which I am now making of the pig industry.