§ Captain W. BENNasked the Minister of Food if he can make any statement as to the import of Danish bacon; what quantities have been imported through the port of Leith; what quantities have been held up in transport; whether any has deteriorated through the delay; and, if so, what was approximately the amount of the loss involved?
§ Mr. McCURDYI am glad to be able to state that the import of Danish bacon has now been resumed, the strikes which had prevented the Danish shippers from carrying out their contracts having been settled. Since the resumption of shipments early in May the arrivals of Danish bacon have been approximately 9,000 tons, of which some 360 tons have been imported through the port of Leith. So far as my information goes, about 3,000 tons of bacon were held up in Denmark owing to the strikes, but the whole of this quantity had now reached this country and been sold. Some deterioration was caused by this delay, but the loss, which is estimated at from £8,000 to £9,000, falls on the Danish shippers and not on the Ministry of Food.