§ 8. Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether any measures are being taken by the Food from Britain organisation to help profitability in the pig industry.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe council of Food from Britain is well aware of the problems of the pigmeat industry. It must determine its priority areas of activity, but I know that it is actively considering projects to improve our marketing of pigmeat products at home and abroad.
§ Mr. GriffithsI congratulate Mr. David Samworth and my right hon. Friend on their vigorous efforts to help. May I ask for more assistance to reduce the red tape that interferes with British pigmeat exports, to reduce the cost of inspections of slaughterhouses and to assist the industry to get rid of Aujeszky's disease?
§ Mr. WalkerMy hon. Friend had not arrived in the House when, in answer to an earlier question, I announced that we were taking on the veterinary costs of inspection of slaughterhouses involved in the export trade. That problem has been dealt with. The red tape, the detail and export problems have been examined by the industry and the Government and various actions have been taken to improve matters. Also in reply to an earlier question I made it clear that the proposals on Aujeszky's disease, which the industry asked for, were accepted by the Government only on the basis on which they were put forward.
§ Mr. BuchanAlthough I thank the Minister for what he has said so far, he will realise that it does not go nearly far enough to deal with the real problem of the pig industry, which is that of costs. I hope that he will say unequivocally in his statement that he has fought for and achieved an incorporation scheme of subsidised grain output from storage for pig farmers. He has talked too much about marketing and not enough about direct aid to that side of the industry or the processing industry.
§ Mr. WalkerI note with joy the eager anticipation with which the hon. Gentleman awaits my statement.