§ Mr. Turtonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the pigs in the country is kept in holdings of 50 acres and under.
§ Mr. John HareIt is estimated that about one-third of pigs in England and Wales are kept on agricultural holdings of between one and fifty acres, and that 197W rather more than a further 10 per cent. are kept on holdings (including backyards) of one acre or less.
§ Sir T. Mooreasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the statement in paragraph 20 of the Annual Review and Determination of Guarantees for 1958 that the production of pigs in this country is expanding and that this trend of output must be reversed, whether any decision has yet been reached as to the method which it is proposed to adopt to curtail the unnecessary importation into this country of bacon from overseas.
§ Mr. GodberUntil production costs in this country can be substantially reduced, it is necessary to reverse the expansion which has been taking place because of its heavy cost to the Exchequer and its doubtful value to the balance of payments owing to the substantial use of imported feed which is involved. The scale of imported supplies is determined by market forces operating within tariff and other restrictions.