§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether it is the practice of bacon factories to slaughter pigs immediately on arrival; and, if not, are the pigs fed and properly cared for pending slaughter?
§ Mr. MabaneIt is one of the conditions under which pigs are purchased by bacon curers that they shall be slaughtered as soon as possible after delivery, and I am satisfied that in general pigs are slaughtered without any undue delay after their arrival at bacon factories.
§ 14. Sir W. Smithersasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what percentage of hogs going through collecting centres go to the bacon factories and what to the Government slaughterhouses?
§ Mr. MabaneExcluding sows and boars, about 80 per cent. of the total pigs passing through collecting centres have been sent to bacon factories in recent weeks. The remainder has been sent to Government slaughter-houses.
§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what percentage of pigs travel in each of the distances in a table recently issued by the Ministry of Food, giving the revised allowances for transit shrinkage for pigs?
§ Mr. MabaneIn the short time available since my hon. Friend put down his Question, it has not been possible to obtain precise figures. The following percentages, however, show the approximate proportions for the five weeks ended 31st October, 1942:—
Distance. Per cent. Under 50 miles … 77 50–70 miles … 9 70–90 miles … 6 90–110 miles … 5 110–130 miles … under 3 130–150 miles … 150–170 miles … Over 170 miles … under ½