HC Deb 01 July 1999 vol 334 cc266-7W
Miss McIntosh

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to ensure that Government Departments, local authorities and other related agencies purchase only UK-produced pigmeat products. [88855]

Mr. Rooker

This Department has no powers to dictate to authorities with public procurement responsibilities. None the less, my right hon. Friend the Minister has written to a number of Government Departments to underline the guarantees that British pigmeat can offer. He drew attention to the good story which the industry has to tell in respect of its efforts on quality assured and welfare friendly production practices. The responses received indicate that quality assured and welfare friendly production practices play a full part in the tender specifications laid down by public procurement bodies.

We believe that the most effective way to achieve change in the practices of reluctant local councils and health and education authorities is for contact to be made at the local level, both by the industry and by local MPs. On those occasions where contact has been made, it seems to have had a positive effect. My right hon. Friend intends, therefore, to write to all MPs actively encouraging them to make contact with public authorities in their constituencies and invite those authorities to take British welfare and quality standards into account when procuring pork and pork products.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the Government will introduce regulations to impose the same standards of traceability and quality assurance on imported pigmeat products as apply to UK-produced pigmeat. [88856]

Mr. Rooker

The Government have no powers to do so. It is also questionable whether such an imposition would be in the interests of the UK pig industry as it could forgo the possibility of obtaining a premium in the market.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if the Government will cover the cost to pig farmers of offal and waste disposal; and if he will make a statement; [88852]

(2) if the Government will restore rendering subsidies for the UK pig industry. [88853]

Mr. Rooker

There are no plans to do so.