§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have recently been made to him concerning the closure of some bacon curing facilities in Yorkshire; and what reply he has sent.
§ Mr. PeartI have been told of the decision to cease slaughtering and curing at one Yorkshire factory and that this will cause redundancies. The reply said that the present difficulties with which the bacon curing industry is faced arise mainly from a shortage of pigs. My recent action to encourage expansion of pig production should help to overcome this. I have been unable to accept suggestions made to me for relieving the difficulties in the short-term, for reasons which I have explained to the representatives of the industry.