§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress has been made with the pig industry since the Prime Minister's meeting on 30 March, when some £26 million was allocated; and whether some pig producers may be declared ineligible for the restructuring scheme. [HL2210]
§ Baroness HaymanAs announced in the Action Plan for Farming on 30 March, the Government have lodged a pig industry restructuring scheme notification with the European Commission. The scheme includes both an outgoers and ongoers element. Under state aid rules, the Commission must clear the scheme before it can he introduced. In the meantime, discussions are continuing with the industry and with other interested parties on the detailed requirements of the scheme. There are no plans to exclude a specific group of pig farmers from the scheme.