§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the statement of the right hon. Member for North Angus and Mearns (Mr. Buchanan-Smith) Official Report, 17 February, c. 253–54, that British consumers of sheepmeat benefit from the effect of retail prices of using deficiency payments, rather than intervention, he will not propose similar systems for beef and pigmeat.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithFor beef, a deficiency payment system, the beef variable premium scheme, already exists. There have been no public intervention arrangements for pigmeat for many years, although aids to encourage private storage are paid from time to time when the market is weak. There are no plans to introduce a deficiency payment system for pigs.