asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the abandonment of meat control prices means that before full control comes into effect negotiations will be opened up for a fresh range of producer prices; and will those negotiations be based on the price levels reached under open market conditions now prevailing, and which will include the Christmas trade?

As I stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. T. Williams) on 30th November, before full control is introduced consideration will be given in consultation with producers' organisations to the question of appropriate adjustments in the schedule of initial prices to be paid for fat stock as published on 11th November, in the light of seasonal trends and other relevant factors. It will be open to the producers' organisations to call attention to any factors which they consider relevant, although I should hardly regard the exceptional prices which are frequently paid during the Christmas trade for specially prepared animals of high quality as falling in this category.

Will the Minister take into account the way in which pigs are rushing up in price? I take it he would not regard that as a normal factor?

I would not regard an unusual phenomenon of that character as a factor.