§ Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that consignments of Danish bacon are still taking as much as ten days to reach London and six days further to reach points as near as Portsmouth; that bacon delivered at Birmingham and Wales is being continually refused on account of its arriving in bad condition; that a consignment which arrived at Portsmouth on the 19th instant was inspected by the sanitary inspector and condemned as unfit for human food; and what steps he proposes 399W to take to accelerate delivery so that this food shall be available for human consumption in the future?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI have been asked to reply, I presume that the hon. Member is referring to portions of the consignments of Danish bacon which reached this country in exceptionally large quantities on or about the 11th June, and, for the reasons already given, I have no doubt that his statements are correct, though I have not been able to verify them. As regards future consignments, steps have been taken to minimise the difficulties and delays of railway transit, and it is hoped that the voyage by sea will not take so long again.