§ 61. Mr. Yorkasked the Minister of Food the amount of bacon imported from Eire so far during 1948; and whether any imports are anticipated from this country during the next 12 months.
§ Mr. StracheyNone. I discussed this matter with the Eire Government during my recent visit to Dublin and I hope that we shall be able to get the export of bacon from Ireland resumed by the end of 1949.
§ 65. Mr. Edward Daviesasked the Minister of Food if, in view of the short fall in the imports of Danish bacon, he has any further statement to make on the probable course of the bacon ration.
§ Mr. StracheyYes. The ration will be two ounces per week for the Christmas period, that is the two weeks beginning on 19th and 26th December. I regret, however, that in view of the continued delay in shipments mainly from Canada, which will not now be able to send us more than 81,000 tons out of the 100,000 contracted for in 1948, it will be necessary to reduce the ration again to 2 ozs. per fortnight from the week beginning 2nd January. I trust that this further period on the lower ration will be for four weeks only but this depends upon an early recovery in arrivals.