§ Sir R. Gowerasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the reasons why the Government no longer intends to subsidise bacon prices; and what effect is this decision expected to have on the pricing and consumption of bacon?
Major Lloyd GeorgeThe price of bacon has been out of scale with other food prices since 5th February, 1940, when it was reduced in order to ensure the consumption of the considerable stocks then available and to prevent waste of food. Supplies of bacon now available are more limited and my Noble Friend no longer feels able to justify the employment of Exchequer subsidy to maintain the price at an abnormal level relative to other prices. The new bacon prices are, for the cheaper cuts one penny, and for the others twopence per pound higher than those now ruling. It is not expected that these alterations in the prices will cause any reduction in the consumption of bacon.