§ Mr. CawseyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance the Government have given the pig sector since 1 January 1999; and what further assistance his Department plans to give. [105434]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 17 January 2000]: The pig sector was eligible for marketing grants under the Agriculture Development Scheme 1999. The scheme closed for applications on 30 November 1999 and successful applications were announced recently. Pig industry projects benefited significantly from the scheme, receiving over 35 per cent. of the total grants made. £3 million of marketing/promotional money was also earmarked exclusively for the pig sector. Discussions with the industry have resulted in the Government part funding a £4.6 million industry-led welfare-linked promotion campaign. This will begin in February and continue through to October.
The "verification officer" appointed by my right hon. Friend the Minister, will continue his work with industry bodies to identify cases where product is being sold at retail or catering level which misleads the consumer into believing it contains pork of British origin when in fact it is imported. He will also continue to check progress on the commitment given some time ago by major retailers that all their own label fresh pork and certain processed products such as bacon would come from stall and tether and Meat and Bone Meal free production systems. Meetings between Ministers and retailers and caterers on all these issues have taken place. The Minister has also written to public authorities encouraging them to purchase their pork supplies to British standards.