HC Deb 12 December 1938 vol 342 cc1629-30W
Colonel Baldwin-Webb

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the present quota method of protecting the pig and bacon industries in this country results in the exporters of foreign bacon receiving from us larger sums of money for smaller quantities of bacon than before; and whether he will take steps to rearrange matters so that this additional payment is diverted to the profit of the British pig and bacon industries instead of to our foreign competitors?

Mr. W. S. Morrison

The existing level of bacon prices, whilst showing an increase on the abnormally low levels of 1932, is comparable with that ruling in earlier years. The regulation of imported supplies of bacon has secured stable conditions for producers both at home and overseas. There is no guarantee that adequate supplies of bacon would continue to be forthcoming from the principal supplying countries if prices were allowed to fall to a substantially lower level.