HC Deb 02 August 1978 vol 955 cc327-8W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the fact that the chairman of FMC, the meat wholesale corporation, has announced a fall in profits from £3,101,000 in 1977 to £929,000 in the current year due in part to the operation of the Common Market rules on monetary compensation amounts, heavily subsidised imports and penalised exports, what action he proposes to take to change these unfair rules.

Mr. Bishop

Many companies engaged in processing pigmeat have faced difficulties which arise in part from the system of monetary compensatory amounts. The 8 per cent. reduction in these amounts which my right hon. Friend negotiated in June will help to improve the situation. My right hon. Friend is, however, continuing his efforts to secure agreement within the EEC to further changes.