HC Deb 10 February 1938 vol 331 cc1276-7W
Mr. Turton

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is yet in a position to make a statement of the Government policy towards the pig industry?

Mr. W. S. Morrison

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend on 1st February.

Major Carver

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can assign any reasons for the decline in the number of pigs in this country, especially in view of the high prices for pork and bacon?

Mr. W. S. Morrison

The recent decline in the numbers of pigs, which is not confined to this country, is probably due to several causes and it would be difficult to assess the relative importance of each, but the chief factor is doubtless the rise in prices of feeding-stuffs. Although the average wholesale prices of home-produced pork and bacon were higher in 1937 than in the previous two years, the increase in the price of feeding-stuffs since 1935 was proportionately greater. Compared with fluctuations in pig production over a long period, the decline in pig stocks since 1935, when the supply constituted a record, is, however, small.

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