asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much pigmeat is consumed per head of population in the United Kingdom at the present time; what were the corresponding figures for the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

My Department does not have figures of actual consumption. Estimates of total supplies of pork and bacon and ham available for consumption per head of population in the United Kingdom in the second quarter of 1976, the latest period for which figures are available, compared with the same period in the 10 preceding years, are as follows:

			kg. per head
April-June			Pork	Bacon and ham
1966	…	…	2·7	3·0
1967	…	…	2·4	2·8
1968	…	…	2·5	2·8
1969	…	…	2·7	2·8
1970	…	…	2·6	2·8
1971	…	…	2·9	3·1
1972	…	…	3·0	2·9
1973	…	…	2·9	2·6
1974	…	…	3·0	2·3
1975	…	…	2·5	2·2
1976	…	…	2·4	2·1

Consumption of the various meats reflects available supply, the availability and price of competing meats and other proteins as well as consumer preferences.