§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the trends in pig prices since the introduction of the pig subsidy.
§ Mr. John SilkinThe temporary pig subsidy has been paid since 31st January. The average of the weekly prices for pigs in February was 1.8p per kg lower than in January. This reflects the usual seasonal decline in pig prices which has been accentuated by reductions in the wholesale price of bacon.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further help he proposes to give to the British pig industry.
§ Mr. John SilkinThe temporary subsidy which I introduced at the end of January is giving substantial immediate help to the pig industry. I am continuing
UNITED KINGDOM PIG SLAUGHTERINGS '000 head Clean Pigs Sows and Boars Total 1976— August … … … 997 26 1,023 September … … … 1,041 29 1,070 October (5 weeks) … … … 1,370 39 1,409 November … … … 1,128 34 1,162 December (5 weeks) … … … 1,318 38 1,356 1977— January (5 weeks) … … … 1,294 47 1,341 Totals from November 1976 are provisional.