§ Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Minister of Food the extent of the loss which has recently been incurred on the sale, in this country, of Irish, Danish and Dutch pork purchased by his Department; whether he was aware at the time of purchase that the purchase of this meat would involve its resale at a loss; and whether, in view of the consequential increase in the deficiency payments which have to be made by the Government to British pig breeders, he will, in the near future, revise his present policy with regard to the import of foreign bacon and pork.
Mr. AmoryIt is not the practice to disclose the day-to-day results of my Department's trading operations. Irish, Danish and Dutch pork is at present imported in lieu of bacon under bulk purchase agreements, ending in April, 1956, in respect of the Republic of Ireland and in September, 1956, in respect of Denmark and Holland. We must, of course, honour our obligations under these agreements.