§ Rev. William McCreaTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he will take to reverse rapidly falling farm incomes and fight unfair European competition, especially in the pig industry.
§ Mr. ViggersApart from the weather-affected years of 1985 and 1986, farming income in Northern Ireland has been relatively high during the 1980s. Preliminary information indicates that, after allowing for inflation, the average income per holding in 1987 was at its second highest level since 1978. This has been helped by strengthening of sterling and changes in the green pound secured by the Government over the past year so that monetary compensatory amounts are some 14 to 17 points lower than a year ago. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has made clear his recognition of the difficulties facing the United Kingdom pig industry. He has indicated his support for the European Commission's objective of removal of monetary compensatory amounts by 1992 but that this should be accomplished without further escalation of the cost of the common agricultural policy.