§ 6. Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what he estimates will be the number of pigs slaughtered from July to December, 1966; and how this compares with the number slaughtered in the same period last year.
§ Mr. PeartThe number of pigs slaughtered in the United Kingdom in July to December, 1965, was 7,579,000. I expect the comparable figure this year to be somewhat under 7 million.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithWould the right hon. Gentleman agree that the reduction in the number of slaughterings which he forecasts is because the size of the breeding herd is at its lowest for over four years? Would he accept that this is because of the stringent way in which the Government have treated this industry?
§ Mr. PeartOn the contrary, as the hon. Gentleman must know, this shows how the flexible guarantee system works. In the Price Review we raised the middle band by 400,000, which gives over 2s. 3d. a score more than in the previous February.
§ Mr. Maxwell-HyslopBut would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the standard quantity of the centre band for pigs is substantially less than the number which we need to have coming on to the market?
§ Mr. PeartI do not accept that. I think that the hon. Gentleman should wait to see how the flexible guarantee finally operates.