HC Deb 13 February 1939 vol 343 c1392W
Mr. T. Williams

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) what were the monthly variations in the price of the standard ration for pigs as calculated under Section 27 of the Bacon Industry Act, 1938, and the total payments made to the Treasury by pig producers since the Act came into operation;

(2) the monthly variations of the ascertained bacon prices as calculated under Section 28 of the Bacon Industry Act, 1938; and the total sums paid or received by the Treasury under the same section since the Act came into operation?

Sir R. Dorman-Smith

The prices of the standard ration for pigs during the first three months of the current contract period are as follow:

s. d.
December, 1938 8 4
January, 1939 8 1
February, 1939 8 2
No amount is payable by or to the Exchequer in respect of rises or falls in the cost of feeding stuffs or in respect of variations in the ascertained bacon price unless bacon is made from the pigs. An amendment of the Bacon Industry Act to facilitate the proof by curers of the quantity of bacon made from pigs is now before the House. In the meantime the formal ascertainment of bacon prices and the assessment of the sums due to or by the Exchequer is being deferred.