§ Mr. FIELDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has received communications and resolutions respecting an increase in the control price of pigs; whether he is aware that, unless this is arranged at once, pig 324W breeding will be discouraged and future supplies endangered; and what is proposed to be done on this demand?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The advisability of authorising a slight increase in the maximum price of pigs is now being considered by the Central Advisory Committee on Live Stock and Meat Supplies.
§ Mr. CRUMLEYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he will withdraw the Order prohibiting the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society from purchasing pigs during the month of March; if he is aware that this society purchased on an average 35,000 pigs per annum; and that the present Order will cause a large number of men to be thrown out of employment?
§ Mr. CLYNESI am informed that the returns made on behalf of the Scottish Wholesale Co-operative Society were found by the Irish Food Control Committee to be inaccurate, and that corrected returns were not furnished in time for the society to be included in the March allocations. The number of pigs purchased by this society in previous months appears to have exceeded their fair proportion of available supplies, and any withdrawal of the Order prohibiting them from purchasing pigs during the remainder of this month would inflict hardship on competing firms.