§ 20. Mr. Hardyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he expects to maintain home pigmeat production at an adequate level during the next two years.
§ 27. Mr. David Walderasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current level of the pig breeding herd.
§ Mr. John SilkinThe census data at 1st April shows that the total breeding herd in the United Kingdom of sows and gilts in pig was 827,000 head, 1½ per cent. below the level of April 1976. Our pig-meat industry produces nearly all our requirements of fresh pigmeat but we import more than half of our requirements of bacon and ham. The recent cutback in our pig breeding herd will lead to some reduction of domestic output later on this year and in 1978.
§ 25. Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a furter statement on the problems of pig producers.
§ 28. Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further proposals he has to put to the European Commission to help arrest the slaughterings of the United Kingdom's national pig herd.
§ Mr. John SilkinI would refer the hon. Members to the reply given earlier today to the hon. Member for Holland with Boston (Mr. Body) and others.