§ Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the arrangements for the stabilisation of the bacon curing industry in 1972–73.
§ Mr. PriorThe detailed changes in the bacon stabilisation arrangements to operate in 1972–73 which I announced yesterday are designed to ensure in the coming year a satisfactory balance in our pig and bacon markets. Home pigmeat supplies in 1972–73 are expected to be rather lower than in 1971–72 and United Kingdom bacon production in 1972–73 needs to be more in line with the figure of 265,000 tons allowed for in the Bacon Market Sharing Understanding. It is essential that United Kingdom curers should plan their production and marketing taking proper account of market conditions. They should regard the B.M.S.U. figure of 265,000 tons as the expected level of bacon production to be achieved, provided that this level of production can be marketed successfully, bearing in mind in particular the stabiliser arrangements which will be operating. I have announced these arrangements so as to allow curers good time to lay their plans in the fullest possible knowledge of the conditions in which they will be operating next year.