HC Deb 03 May 1984 vol 59 cc192-3W
8. Mr. McQuarrie

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he proposes to bring in a scheme for aid to the pig and poultry industries.

Mr. MacGregor

Aid is already provided from both European Community and national sources, including market support and arrangements through sluicegate prices, import levies and export refunds plus, in the case of pigs, aids to private storage, grants for the modernisation and development of pig farms, and to improve marketing and processing for pig and poultry products under both EC Regulation 355/77 and our own Industrial Development Act 1982. The Government also repay the cost of veterinary supervision in export slaughterhouses. The fact that the average all pigs price is now 25 per cent. higher than it was this time last year is a significant help to producers.