asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the circumstances in which the Pigs and Bacon Commission have made arrangements to supply bacon to the Army authorities, the rates at which such bacon is sold to the Army, and the rate of commission earned by the Pigs and Bacon Commission on those transactions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Bacon Supplies.
The Pigs and Bacon Commission were approached by representatives of the Department of Defence to assist in securing bacon for the Army since the regular contractors had terminated their contracts by notice in accordance with the terms of their contracts and there were no tenders received for the continuance of supplies. The commission, out of the quantity of bacon which they hold, supplied small quantities to the Army, but generally the supply of bacon is being entrusted to bacon curers by direction of the commission under the powers conferred on them by the Emergency Powers (No. 181) Order, 1942.
The prices at which bacon has been sold by the commission to the Army are those fixed by the Prices Branch of the Department of Supplies for the types of bacon sold. The rate at which curers supply bacon is a matter for negotiation between them and the Army authorities limited by the maximum price. The Pigs and Bacon Commission do not get commission on the sales of bacon to the Army.