§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to introduce aid for the pig industry to cover the costs of offal disposal. [103242]
§ Ms QuinOfficials have explored the possibility of a pig offal disposal scheme with the European Commission. In principle, Community rules might permit the payment of a state aid in this area, but there appears to be no scope to frame a sensible and worthwhile scheme which satisfies572W the strict EU guidelines and meets the requirements of industry. The Commission will certainly not sanction any scheme which fails to meet the rules; and we could not contemplate paying an illegal aid. The rules preclude the payment of operating aids, i.e. subsidies that are simply aimed at improving the producer's position in the market.