HC Deb 25 April 1972 vol 835 c1272
Q6. Mr. Deakins

asked the Prime Minister if in his forthcoming discussions with the Danish Prime Minister he will seek to reach an agreement on a mutually balanced phasing out of aid, both direct and indirect, to the respective bacon curing industries.

The Prime Minister

This will be a matter for discussion with the Community and other interested acceding countries over the next few months: it is not a subject for purely bilateral agreements.

Mr. Deakins

Does not the Prime Minister realise that the unilateral removal of support for the bacon-curing industry in this country would result in a big increase in imports of bacon and would rob the pig industry of the opportunities for expansion which were promised in the Government's White Paper?

The Prime Minister

I know the hon. Gentleman's keen interest in this, but it is a matter which will have to be dealt with by the Community. The Community has recognised that continued stability is necessary under conditions of fair competition. I appreciate the importance of the bacon stabilisation scheme, but this will now have to be dealt with by the acceding and existing members of the Community.