HC Deb 13 July 1977 vol 935 cc128-9W
Mr. Watt

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give an assessment of the profitability of pig production if pig producers had access to grain at £38 per ton as against the current EEC price of £80 per ton.

Mr. Bishop

It is not possible to provide a meaningful assessment of likely changes in the profitability of pig production based on the effects of a hypothetical reduction in the cost of feed. Profitability depends on a number of factors, including the price of pigment, which is affected by. amongst other things, the level of output, which would itself be influenced over time by changes in the cost of production.