asked the Taoiseach if he will state in respect of each of the months September, 1955, to March, 1956, (a) the average dead weight price per cwt. paid to producers for each grade of pig received at bacon factories, and (b) the average price per carcase cwt. received by bacon factories for each grade of bacon.

I regret that the information asked for by the Deputy is not available in the Central Statistics Office.

Certain information is received for prices index number purposes as regards the wholesale prices charged by a limited, number of concerns. These prices, however, cannot be directly related to the grazes of pigs, and, furthermore, there is considerable variability in the classifications used for the quotation of the wholesale prices.

The Parliamentary Secretary has informed me that there are no prices available, but could I ask how it is that the retail price of bacon is fixed? There must be information available in the Departments about the price per cwt. paid to producers and about the price at which bacon is sold. There is not any doubt in the world about that. I asked the same question of the Minister for Agriculture last week and he said that the information was not available, and the Taoiseach's Statistics Department refused to give the information also. I want, to state that I believe Deputies are being treated unfairly. I believe that the information is there and the Deputies are entitled to get this information.

I do not think the Deputy is correct in saying that the definite, precise information he requested is there; he is not quite right in making that charge. If we had the information the Deputy would receive it.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary say how the retail price of bacon is fixed, if there is no information as to what is paid for bacon and what is charged by the producers of the bacon? How is the price fixed?

There is nothing in the question regarding the retail price of bacon.

"The average price per carcase out. received by bacon factories for each grade of bacon so produced"—that is the price they sell it at. How is the price of bacon fixed?

If the Deputy puts down a question to that effect I will get the information for him.

It is quite possible they do not want to give the information and that it is being withheld for some purpose.

No, that is not true.

It is being withheld for a deliberate purpose.