§ 11 and 12. Sir G. Foxasked the Minister of Food (1) whether, in view of the fact that the recent reduction of 4d. a pound in the price of bacon will save the consumer only ½d. per week on the present ration, whilst, at the same time, substantially adding to the cost of food subsidies, he will review the present system of charging the public an uneconomic price for this commodity;
(2) what is the reason for the recent reduction of 4d. a pound in the price of bacon; and, in view of the fact that this country is now obliged to pay more for Canadian and Danish bacon than 12 months ago and that British farmers have recently been granted an increase in the price of their pigs, to what extent this recent reduction will involve a further subsidisation of the cost of living.
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§ Mr. StracheyThe increase in the bacon subsidy was made as part of the Government's stabilisation policy. During 1947–48 the cost to the Exchequer will be about £6 millions this year.
§ 13. Sir G. Foxasked the Minister of Food whether he will give a list of the present directors, deputy directors and assistant directors of the Bacon and Ham Division of his Department, indicating in each case whether these individuals were concerned with the production of bacon in Great Britain before the war or with firms principally engaged in the importation into this country of bacon from overseas; and whether he is satisfied that this staff possesses adequate experience with regard to bacon production in this country.
§ Mr. StracheyThe undermentioned officers constitute the Directorate of the Bacon and Ham Division of my Department: Mr. John Loudon, Director of Bacon and Ham; Mr. P. S. Hall. Deputy Director of Bacon and Ham, Director of Bacon Imports; Mr. A. R. Watson, Director of Bacon Distribution; Dr. A. Calder, Director of Pig Supplies; Mr. T. Johnston, Director of Bacon Production; Mr. L. W. Dumper, Deputy Director of Bacon Distribution; Mr. L. Cluett, Assistant Director of Bacon Imports; Mr. P. Gale, Assistant Director of Bacon Production. Before joining my Department, Messrs. Watson, Calder, Johnston and Gale were concerned with the production of bacon in Great Britain, and Messrs. Loudon Hall, Dumper and Cluett were with firms principally engaged in importing bacon from overseas. I am entirely satisfied that the Directorate have the necessary experience of bacon production in this country.
§ Sir G. Foxasked the Minister of Food what machinery exists to ensure that the interests of British bacon production are given due weight in arriving at policy decisions by his Department with regard to bacon and ham.
§ Mr. StracheyMy Department maintains close touch with all branches of the home bacon curing industry through the Bacon Marketing Board Committee which was appointed in 1944 to provide a single channel for consultation with the industry.