§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek a revision of the European Community pigmeat regulations, with a view to having a price stabilisation scheme accepted which would be approved by the Council of Ministers and paid from Community funds on terms which presently are available to French pig producers.
§ Mr. MacGregorBearing in mind the nature of the product, the fact that the European Community is already over 100 per cent. self-sufficient in pigmeat and the state of the Community budget, there is no realistic prospect of the Council of Ministers agreeing to a heavyweight regime involving firmer guarantee arrangements for Community pig producers. As far as we have been able to ascertain so far, the French proposal is different in its effect and its extent. But, as I told the House on 2 Februrary at c. 395, we have been urging the European Commission to investigate the arrangements the French authorities have in mind for assisting their pig producers to determine whether they are compatible with Community rules. The Commission is doing so. My officials are keeping in regular touch with Commission officials over this and we will not hesitate to pursue the matter further if there is any suggestion of an illegal state aid.