§ 62. Sir A. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give an assurance now that the scale of guarantees for pigs will be amended at the 1964 Price Review to countenance the increase in numbers required to satisfy in the coming year a continuing strong demand for pork while meeting in full the 36 per cent, allocation of the bacon market accepted for United Kingdom producers.
§ Mr. SoamesMy hon. Friend will appreciate that I cannot give an answer which would anticipate the Annual Review. Certainly the demand for pig-meat is strong at the moment. I have every hope that this demand will continue to grow and that our producers will be able to take advantage of this. If these conditions obtain, they could be taken into account in determining, for example, the appropriate level of the "middle band". Generally speaking, it will, of course, be possible at successive Annual Reviews to take such steps as may prove necessary to encourage producers to match domestic pig production to the needs of the market.