§ Mr. Bob Dunnasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement as to the condition of the bacon curing industry, following the disposal by three factories in recent months of bacon curing facilities.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithMy right hon. Friend recognises that the bacon curing industry has for some time faced a difficult situation in which competing imports have benefited unfairly from a high level of payments of monetary compensatory amounts. This has been an important factor in a number of recent plant closures and it is the Government's aim to secure reductions in these payments in order to improve the industry's competitive position.