§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that the United Kingdom bacon industry can offer long-term contracts to bacon pig producers for 1973–74;
(2) in what way the common agricultural policy will take account of the special needs of British bacon pig industry after June 1973 until the end of the transition period;
(3) why arrangements for pigmeat and bacon are being adapted to the common agricultural policy within the first six months of the five-year transitional period.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartThe compensatory amount arrangements in the pigmeat sector are to be phased out over a transitional period. They provide a framework within which United Kingdom bacon pig producers and curers will be able456W to adjust progressively to the full EEC conditions which will operate from 1978. We believe that within this framework efficient producers and curers will be able to plan ahead with confidence and make appropriate contractual arrangements between themselves.
§ Mr. Maudeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on how he intends to abolish the flexible guarantee for pigs.
§ Mr. GodberIn my statement on 24th January about the outcome of the meeting of the EEC Council of Ministers on 22nd-23rd January I said that the flexible guarantee would be abolished. We will be seeking in due course the approval of Parliament to the necessary amendment of the Fatstock (Guarantee Payments) Order 1964. Meantime the other Agricultural Ministers and I have decided to raise the level of the middle band so that the mechanism of the flexible guarantee will not operate to reduce the effective guaranteed price for the rest of the present fatstock year ending 25th March 1973. We need more pigmeat and the importance of this step will be recognised by producers.