HC Deb 04 July 1974 vol 876 cc582-3
7. Mr. Freud

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the immediate prospects for the pig industry.

8. Mr. Fry

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the depressed market for pigs, if he is satisfied that the continuance of the subsidy of 50p per score until September is sufficient to encourage future pig production in this country.

Mr. Peart

I refer the hon. Members to what I said in the debate on 26th June.

Mr. Freud

Is the Minister aware that my constituent pig farmers were told today that the contract price of pork would be going down by 30p next week, which will virtually wipe out the 50p subsidy which is due to finish in September? Is he further aware that a cheap food policy is admirable, but not if it bankrupts those people who produce the cheap food?

Mr. Peart

I am aware of the difficulties facing pig producers. I still believe that the 50p per score subsidy was right, and, after all, it was an immediate action. I know that producers did not recoup in every case. I shall look into the point which the hon. Gentleman has raised, if he will give me the particulars, and have it carefully examined.

Mr. Fry

Is the Minister aware that most pig producers are disappointed in him over his action, or lack of action, from which it is likely that the pig population in 1975 will be reduced? Does he realise that he is in real danger of being regarded as the butcher of Workington?

Mr. Peart

That is a rather childish observation. I took immediate action regarding the pig industry when I became the Minister. Further, I have recently been to the Community and obtained an extension of the subsidy. The hon. Gentleman must appreciate that national aids of this kind in the Community are sometimes regarded by other countries as a distortion of competition. I secured something which I believed was helpful for the industry.