§ 3. Ann Winterton (Congleton) (Con)What measures her Department is taking to promote the British pig industry. [180206]
§ The Minister for the Environment and Agri-environment (Mr. Elliot Morley)The British Pig Executive of the Meat and Livestock Commission is the 1436 body responsible for promoting the interests of the British pig industry. My ministerial colleagues and I are happy to support those activities.
§ Ann WintertonQueen bees carried me away for a moment, Mr. Speaker.
While the British pig industry has managed to contain the fall in production, which has levelled out at about 500,000 tonnes, with prices remaining sustainable at present, is the Minister aware that pig producers are still under considerable pressure from imported pig and pig-meat products, much of which it would be illegal to produce in the United Kingdom because of our higher animal welfare standards, such as the banning of stall and tether production? Will the Minister therefore support wholeheartedly the National Pig Association's best practice guidelines to be published next month, and encourage retailers and the food service sector alike to sign up to UK sourcing and honesty in the food chain?
§ Mr. MorleyI understand the point that the hon. Lady makes in relation to the UK pig industry. She is right: it produces meat to high welfare standards. We have been campaigning for the same standards across the EU, and European producers will ultimately meet the UK standards. At present, there is an advantage for UK producers in terms of marketability. In that respect, we warmly welcome the industry's efforts to speak to retailers, and in principle we support its approach to the code of practice. We look forward to talking to the industry to see how we can take matters forward.