§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total importation to Scotland in each of the past five years of cereal replacer-substitutes for the use of pig producers.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythMy Department does not maintain records on the importation of cereal substitutes for incorporation in pig feed. Cereals remain the main component in Scottish pig feed rations and manioc is not currently being used in substitution.
§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many recent representations he has received about current difficulties being faced by pig producers in Scotland.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe National Farmers Union of Scotland has recently made representations to my noble694W Friend the Minister of State about the overproduction of pigmeat within the European Community, which coupled with certain problems on third country markets, is currently presenting difficulties for the Scottish pig industry.
§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of people employed in pig production in Scotland.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythInformation is not available in the form requested. The table sets out the labour force (which need not be employed on pig production) on units returning pigs at the June 1987 agricultural census.
Pig size groups Units Total labour 1–2 124 312 3–9 99 246 10–19 60 159 20–29 44 103 30–59 48 107 50–99 69 162 100–199 66 155 200–249 55 70 250–499 58 397 500 and over 199 1,371
§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in theOfficial Report the total number of pig producers in Scotland in each of the past five years.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe information requested is set out in the table.
Total producers1 Total pigs 1983 1,169 442,238 1984 960 405,483 1985 933 418,465 1986 906 413,736 1987 822 425,745 1 Based on units returning pigs at the June agricultural census.