§ 53. Lieut-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that the licences issued for importing 25,000 tons of Canadian pork have not, to any substantial extent, been taken up by the trade because the prices offered were too low; and what other action he will take in these circumstances to restore the balance between the pork and bacon markets in this country.
§ Mr. GodberI understand that Canadian exporters have not found price levels in this country sufficiently attractive and consequently the import licences issued five weeks ago have not yet been taken up by the trade.
On the second part of the Question, as my hon. Friend is aware, this is a matter which is being considered during the present Price Review.
§ 54. Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that during recent weeks Denmark and Holland have been exporting bacon to this country at a rate as fast as British bacon factories are losing supplies of pigs, and that within the last ten months the British bacon industry has lost 1,000 tons a week or one-third of its trade to Denmark; and what steps he proposes to take to stop this tendency.
§ Mr. GodberThere has been a recent increase in bacon imports and a fall in home production. This fall reflects not only increased competition from imports but the competition which the curing industry has to meet from the pork and manufacturing trades for the smaller supplies of pigs which have been available over recent months.
The position of the pig industry is at present being reconsidered as part of the Annual Review consultations. I must 5W ask my hon. Friend to await the announcement of the Government's decisions following the Review.