§ Mr. FLAVINasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has taken the following conditions into consideration and account when he fixed the price of Irish bacon 10s. per cwt. under that of English bacon,—namely, that the quantity of pigs bred, fattened, and killed in Ireland is considerably more than in England, and that the principal pig food, which is Indian meal and mill offals, is much dearer in Ireland than in England; whether he is aware that the cost of transit or shipment of bacon from Ireland to the English market is a handicap on the Irish producer; that the high cost of pig food in Ireland, and fixing the price of Irish bacon 10s. per cwt. under the price of English bacon will inevitably lead to the cottiers and farmers in Ireland ceasing to breed and prepare pigs for the market, and also help to destroy the most important industry of Ireland and create a great shortage in the food supply of the nation; and whether he will reconsider the prices fixed for Irish bacon?
Captain BATHURSTIrish bacon is usually sold at a less price than English, and I understand that when the prices were arranged by the Food Controller with the representatives of the trade the difference was at least 10s. per cwt. The representatives of the Irish curers have laid their case before the Food Controller, and the hon. Member may rest assured that the point mentioned by him will be carefully considered when the prices are revised at the end of this week. I may point out that the price of bacon has increased at least as much as that of feeding stuffs.