Mr. De la Bère:

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that certain grocers shops from time to time display large heaps of fresh ham bones for sale, the meat having been cut off, pressed and exported; whether, in view of the shortage of the bacon ration, and the general shortage of food, he will take steps to ensure that this practice should now cease; and whether he can give the monthly average export of bacon and hams up to 1st November this year.

I have been unable to trace any instance of this practice but if the hon. Member will send me details I will have the matter investigated. The export of bacon and ham is confined to bacon and ham processed in the United Kingdom and despatched to the Channel Isles, Malta, Gibraltar and for N.A.A.F.I. overseas. It amounted to only 42 tons per month during the first nine months of 1947.

Mr. De la Bère:

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether, when he gets the necessary information, he will take steps to ensure that no further supplies of bacon and ham will be exported, in view of the fact that the people of this country get one miserable ounce of bacon a week—one miserable ounce?

I do not know if the hon. Member thinks that we should cut our exports to N.A.A.F.I.; if so, I cannot agree with him.