asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the prices paid in October, 1975, and October, 1976, for bacon as sold in shops in this State.

The monthly surveys of retail meat prices carried out by the National Prices Commission show that average retail prices per lb for the five cuts of bacon surveyed during the months in question were as follows: October, 1975, gigot, 62p; shoulder, 32.8p; streaky rashers, 58.2p; back rashers, 85.1p; and ham, 66.7p. The corresponding figures for October, 1976 were: gigot, 70.1p; shoulder, 36.7p; streaky rashers, 64.7p; back rashers, 93.8p; and ham, 70.7p.