§ Sir G. Jeffreysasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will consider adopting as the Government policy the encouragement of farmers to keep on sows of good type and sell all pigs not required for breeding as soon as they are suitable for pork; and whether he will, in addition, approve the price of 21s. a score for pork pigs for the next year and not merely till 28th April?
Mr. HudsonFor a given quantity of feeding stuffs more meat is produced by feeding pigs onto bacon weight than by producing a larger number of smaller pigs for the pork market. Moreover, bacon is the form of pig-meat which is most required. In view of the feeding stuffs situation, the total number of pigs must be substantially reduced, but arrangements are being made whereby pedigree pigs will not suffer the reduction in the unit value of the ration coupon. The scale of prices for fat pigs announced on 1st March is designed to facilitate this reduction in numbers. I am unable at present to make any further statement with regard to future prices. The position will be kept under close review.