§ Mr. Lathamasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from pig producers regarding imports of manioc into the European Community; and any competitive advantage which this gives to Dutch pig producers; and what action he is taking in that regard.
§ Mr. GummerI have not received any recent representations from our pig producers about imports of manioc into the European Community. But I am aware that imports of cereal substitutes into the European Community are of concern to them.
It is difficult to make precise comparisons of feed costs for pig producers in the United Kingdom and other member states because of variations in such factors as the quality of feed produced and used. Compound feedstuffs in the Netherlands do contain a high proportion of cereal substitutes, imports of which enter the European Community mainly through Rotterdam.
I continue to work for further price restraints in the cereals sector. In this way, any advantage for users of cereals substitutes should be reduced.