§ 18. Mr. Henry Clarkasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to reduce the current high cost of animal feeding-stuffs in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. HoyThe cost of animal feeding-stuffs in Northern Ireland as well as in Great Britain, is determined largely by the level of world market prices for the main raw materials. The prices of imported raw materials are outside the control of the Government and of the feedingstuffs industry. As the hon. Member is aware, however, the guaranteed prices for pigs and eggs are adjusted upwards and downwards in accordance with a formula based on feedingstuffs prices.
§ Mr. ClarkWhile accepting what the hon. Gentleman has said, will he look seriously at the formula to see whether a better weighting cannot be given to producers in Northern Ireland, who get only one-seventh of the say in the formula but who produce considerably more than that when it comes to pig production?
§ Mr. HoyAll these things are done in consultation. It is true that farmers in Northern Ireland are in a different position from those in this country. We make certain other allowances to try to meet the needs of Northern Ireland.
§ Sir Knox CunninghamCan the hon. Gentleman give any estimate of the effect on the cost of feedingstuffs if the United Kingdom enters the Common Market? 1698 If he has made that estimate, can he tell the House what it is?
§ Mr. HoyI could not give that figure. The question was dealing with Northern Ireland, and I prefer to deal with that one more than the other.