§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what representations she has made to the French Government and the European Commission on the subject of financial assistance given to Danish, Belgian and German pig farmers;
(2) what action she is taking to determine the legality of French Government aid to their pig producers;
(3) what consideration has been given by her Ministry to the introduction of a scheme to compensate British pig producers who are disadvantaged by unfair competition from European Union pig producers;
(4) what measures she is considering introducing to improve the economic prospects for British pig producers;
273W(5) if she will summarise the evidence she has prepared for the European Commission on state aids given to pig producers in other EU states.
§ Mr. JackThe support measures available to pig producers under the CAP are very limited and pigmeat producers are dependent on the market for their returns.
Aid programmes paid for by national governments are only permitted with the approval of the European Commission. Rumours of aids to pig producers in other member states are widespread, but we have firm evidence only in respect of a scheme in France. My right hon. Friend has already pressed the Commission to determine the legal status of the aids in accordance with article 93 of the treaty and to take whatever action is necessary. She has also raised the matter on numerous occasions in the Council of Agriculture Ministers.
The Government legitimately help the pig industry through the funding of research and development. Spending by the Agriculture Departments on the pig sector in the current year amounts to £14 million. A further sum is spent by the Agriculture and Food Development Council on animal science, some of which is of direct benefit to the pig industry.