§ Mr. Maginnisasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to combat the shortage of pigs available to bacon factories in Northern Ireland resulting from the large number of suckers and stores now going to the Republic of Ireland.
§ Mr. David HowellCross-border traffic in young pigs depends on price differences in finished pigs between 393W Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. Movement of pigs below bacon weight (170 lb. liveweight) is not contrary to any Northern Ireland legislation.
Over the past year prices of finished pigs have at times been substantially higher in the Republic than in Northern Ireland, so there has been a tendency for young pigs to be sent to the Republic, though the incentive has been reduced in recent weeks as the price gap has narrowed.
After the adoption of the common agricultural policy price relationships will be greatly influenced by the compensatory amounts on pigmeat between the Republic and the United Kingdom. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is fully conscious of the importance to Northern Ireland pig raisers of a level of compensatory amounts which does not lead to trade distortions.