§ Mr. Wattasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in his discussions with the Meat and Livestock Commission on methods of financing the commission's pig carcase classification and weighting services in the light of the impending withdrawal of the fatstock guarantee scheme for pigs.
§ Mr. BishopThe financing of the pig carcase classification scheme is entirely a matter for the MLC. The Government have already made a substantial contribution to the cost of developing the pig carcase classification scheme but they have no authority to use public funds to pay any part of the cost of those staff needed to operate pig carcase classification, when the pig guarantee arrangements terminate at the end of this month. We are, however, considering with the MLC how the transition can be effected with the minimum of disruption.