I move amendment No. 1 :—
In line 26 after the word " ham " to insert the words " gammons and fore-ends."
This amendment has been put down with a view to ascertaining from the Minister whether there is already a statutory definition of bacon, and whether in his opinion any definition that may exist is adequate for the purposes of this Bill.
With regard to the amendment, I think there might be a case for including gammons, but the addition of the word " fore-ends " would be unacceptable. In fact, I think it would be dangerous to insert it.
Is the Minister of opinion that there is no danger of what is commonly known in the trade as " fore-ends " being cured independent of the Wiltshire side ?
I think it would pass as bacon. I think there could be a case made for saying that gammon is part of the ham. Perhaps we could say that bacon includes hams and gammons, but if you were to say that it includes fore-ends as well, it might lead to difficulty.
I think we ought to have some statutory definition of what the conversion of pork into bacon really is.
I do not think there is a definition in any Act.
If, as the Minister says, the gammon is part of the ham, is it not included in bacon ? Therefore, there is no need for mentioning it specifically.
It probably is.
I am quite prepared to withdraw my amendment, and leave it to the discretion of the Minister to bring in something on report.
I think that would be the better thing to do.
