§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he intends to take to protect United Kingdom pigmeat producers from heavy losses due to the advantage to Dutch and Danish producers receiving monetary compensatory amounts for the export to the United Kingdom of bacon, fresh pork loins and middle bacon.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonImprovements which we have secured in negotiations in the Community, together with the strengthening of sterling, have resulted in a fall of 16 points in our pigmeat MCAs over the past year. I shall continue to seek further improvements in the position at every opportunity. I must, however, stress that this is a highly controversial issue in the Community.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will strengthen the present arrangements for controlling pigmeat imports so as to assist in stopping the spread of classical swine fever.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonImports of pigmeat are already the subject of stringent veterinary conditions laid down by European Community directives. Following pressure from the Government, the rules on classical swine fever controls have been strengthened by a package of measures which had to be implemented by 1 January 1988.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to introduce private storage aids to United Kingdom pigmeat producers.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThis is to be discussed at the Pigmeat Management Committee in Brussels on Friday 29 January.