§ Mr. Hannahasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why the factory of J. E. Downs and Sons, at Bilston, the best equipped in the district, has been closed for the production of bacon, leaving no pig slaughter-house in the town; is he aware of the inconvenience to the whole district arising from the loss of unrationed food caused by the consequent absence of the offal products and that the borough council has protested; and will he take steps to reverse this decision?
§ Mr. MabaneConcentration of bacon production has been undertaken primarily to release labour and space for urgent national requirements. To that end consultation took place with the Ministry of Labour and the Board of Trade before it was decided that bacon production should cease in any premises. I am assured that both the primary requirements of concentration will be secured by the cessation of production at the factory of Messrs. J. E. Downs and Sons. There is no reason to anticipate that offal products will not still be available in Bilston. The firm's appeal from the decision to close bacon production has been fully considered but my Noble Friend does not see his way to modify the decision.