§ 5. Mr. Temple-Morrisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current size of the national pig breeding herd.
§ Mr. BishopThe most recent United Kingdom census for which results are available was taken in December 1977, when the number of sows and gilts in pig was 819,000 head.
§ Mr. Temple-MorrisDoes the Minister agree that the breeding herd, particularly gilts—this is a bad omen for the future—is down and that the pig farmer, of all farmers, is having a difficult time? As the Danes are publicly saying that they want a larger share of the British market—we know the financial advantages that they have—and bearing in mind that this affects the whole industry, from the producer right through to the retailer, what has the Minister to say about the future of the pig farmer and the pig industry?
§ Mr. SkinnerGet out of the Market.
§ Mr. BishopThe fall in the breeding herd has been slightly less than was predicted. If it had not been for the temporary subsidy of £17 million, which my right hon. Friend brought in until he was required to change the policy, the situation would have been much worse. We have been pressing consistently for the Community to look into the revaluation of the MCAs. We think that is the best way to proceed.
§ Mr. CorbettGiven that confidence is a key factor in trying to achieve a recovery in the size of the pig herd, is the Minister getting any better sense out of the Common Market over the recalculation rather than the revaluation of the MCAs? Surely that is the key to putting the problem right.
§ Mr. BishopMy hon. Friend is right. He will know of the steps taken by my right hon. Friend in this direction.
§ Mr. PeytonWill the Minister of State urge his right hon. Friend to give stronger support to the French and Italian Ministers on this question of recalculating the MCAs, because it is crucial? How does he face the prospect that, by the end of this year, the Danes will have taken over about 48 per cent. of our market?
§ Mr. BishopThe right hon. Gentleman has got it the wrong way round. My right hon. Friend has been pressing consistently for over a year to get a resolution on the MCAs. That is now supported by the French. We appreciate this encouragement.
§ Mr. PeytonWill the Minister answer the question about the Danish share of the market? Does he agree that by the end of the year the Danes are likely to have 48 per cent. of the bacon market here?
§ Mr. BishopI should not like to make any predictions on this matter. The right hon. Gentleman will appreciate the steps taken so far by my right hon. Friend and realise the slight improvement because of the change in the green pound. These are matters of consumer choice anyway.