§ Mr. HURDasked the Minister of Food whether his Department possesses information that there are thirty to forty American packers shipping bacon and other foodstuffs to this country who are grouped together by various ties of ownership and interest, and pursue a common policy at the bidding of the strongest group, which is popularly known as the Big Five; what steps, if any, the Ministry are taking, in concert with the United States Government, to moderate the high prices fixed by this American combination; and what other measures the Ministry have in view, in the interests of British consumers and producers?
Mr. ROBERTSMy attention has been drawn to the existence of a close alliance between the American packers shipping bacon and other foodstuffs to this country. I have already made arrangements to protect the consumer in this country so far as concerns bacon, hams and lard, by concentrating all buying in the hands of a mission in New York, who are fully informed as to the stocks and requirements of the United Kingdom. A satisfactory form of contract eliminating all chances of speculation has been arranged with the packers, and this, together with complete control of prices and distribution in the United Kingdom, assures to the consumer a regular supply of bacon of good quality at a cost based on the actual price of the hogs from which the bacon is made. I may add that as curing takes a considerable time and transport is slow, the full advantages of these arrangements will probably not be realised until the new year.