§ Mr. Lennox-Boydasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state the grounds on which, in certain instances, licences for curing bacon in respect of the year 1938 are subject to the condition that the licensees must not exceed their average output in the two years 1934 and 1935, even in cases where such bacon curers were in the habit of producing more bacon prior to the introduction of the bacon marketing scheme than the aver-
738Wunder the following heads: rating relief, wheat subsidy, beet-sugar subsidy and rebate, cattle subsidy, and milk subsidy?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleThe amount for the three financial years 1934, 1935 and 1936 is as follows:
age amount they produced in the years 1934 and 1935?
§ Mr. RamsbothamI have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend is informed by the Bacon Development Board that there are no licences which provide that the licensees must not exceed their average output in the two years, 1934 and 1935. There are, however, a number of licences issued in respect of the year 1937 which are subject to the condition that the licensees must not produce in the premises more bacon than was produced during the year 1935, and the board have announced their intention of continuing this limitation in respect of the year 1938. In all these cases the curers concerned had applied to the Development Board for permission to erect new accommodation at their premises or to 739W transfer their business to new premises or to bring into operation new factories, and the limitation was imposed for the purpose of ensuring that the total factory capacity, which is already excessive in relation to the supply of pigs, would not be increased as a result of the permission being granted.