§ 74. Mr. Carsonasked the Minister of Food why his Department has refused to buy 336,000 tins of sliced bacon that are 83W ready for shipment in Australia; and, in view of the fact that they are good value at the price asked and that grocers would have little difficulty in disposing of them, whether he will reconsider his decision.
§ 82. Mr. Cluseasked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement on his negotiations for the purchase of canned bacon from Queensland.
§ Mr. StracheyI am grateful to hon. Members for giving me the opportunity of denying this mischievous story that bacon supplies were being refused. We have agreed with the Australian Government a programe for the production and sale to us of canned bacon in the year which started on 1st October, 1947. Under this programme, I am buying not 336,000 tins but 2,800,000 tins of bacon. We have also agreed to purchase from the Australian Government all the canned bacon that they have offered to us out of earlier production.