Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the net effect of the changes in the costs of producing pigs and in the selling price of pigs in Northern Ireland as a result of the statement of his right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 27th April; and what changes he envisages in the meat industry employment scheme as a result.
§ Mr. DunnAs the change in the green pound will not apply in the cereal sector until the commencement of the new cereal marketing year on 1st August the costs of producing pigs will remain unaffected by this change in the immediate future. The reduction in the pigmeat monetary compensatory amounts applicable from the beginning of this month should tend to strengthen pigmeat prices. The payments on pigs under the Meat Industry Employment Scheme will be reduced from 13.74p to 12.14p per kilogramme from 1st May to take account of the change in the net pigmeat monetary compensatory amount on trade between the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic.