§ 25. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what percentage the United Kingdom pig herd declined in 1974; and if he will make a 584W statement on whether it is his intention that the United Kingdom pig herd should be expanded and how he intends that this should be achieved.
§ Mr. BishopBetween December 1973 and December 1974 the total United Kingdom pig herd was reduced by about 15 per cent. Since then market prices have improved substantially and the decline has been arrested. We hope to see a measure of expansion of pigmeat production over the next few years. I am discussing with the interests concerned the best means of achieving this objective, but the main incentive for growth must come from the market within the EEC system of support which is designed to maintain producer returns at a fair level.