asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the total amount of bacon supplied to each military station by order of the Pigs and Bacon Board, under powers derived from the Emergency Powers Acts, during each of the months August, September and October, 1942, indicating in each case (1) the month, (2) the amount of bacon, (3) the firm supplying the bacon, (4) the place from which it was supplied, and (5) the location of the military station for which the supply was intended.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bacon Supplies for Military.
The total quantities of bacon supplied to the Army for each of the months August, September and October, 1942, are:—
|
August |
1,947 cwts. |
|
September |
1,606 cwts. |
|
October |
1,804 cwts. |
For reasons of public policy it is considered undesirable to give details of the military posts and the quantity supplied to each post.
All licensed bacon curers are required to supply to the Army a proportion of their bacon available for sale. The proportion varies only slightly, regard being had to the location of the factory and the military post to which the bacon is being supplied.
Can the Minister give figures to indicate what the percentages were?
Will the Minister say whether that quota has been fixed on the restricted supply that is available?
Naturally it comes out of the restricted supply.
What I want to know is, whether the Army is taking its full quota of bacon?
The Army is not getting as much as it used to get.
Will the Minister answer my question?
I am afraid I have not the figures here.
Will the Minister say whether, under the arrangement operating at the present time, he has taken any steps to ascertain if firms outside the City of Dublin are being ordered to send bacon into the city, while firms in the city are being ordered to send bacon outside the city?
That is being avoided as far as possible.
Will the Minister say whether, from the point of view of the public interest, there is any reason why information of that kind should not be given? Does he not realise the necessity for seeing that firms in the city will not be forced to send bacon outside it when they could deliver it to barracks in the city, thereby avoiding the use of unnecessary transport?
I will look into that.