HC Deb 30 November 1999 vol 340 cc184-6W
Mr. Mitchell

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made in obtaining approval from(a) the European Union and (b) the Treasury for financial assistance to the pig industry with regard to the extra costs of offal disposal resulting from the BSE problem in cattle. [99047]

Ms Quin

In discussions with the European Commission, it was clear that there would be considerable difficulties in devising a scheme to meet the cost of pig offal disposal which complied with state aid rules. Until there is a proposal which could prove acceptable to the European Commission, there is no basis for seeking additional funding.

Mr. Drew

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what recent representations he has made to(a) the European Commission and (b) the Council of Ministers on the subject of the British pig industry; [100689]

(2) what recent discussions he has held with (a) the European Commission and (b) the Council of Ministers on support for the British pig industry in respect of costs of BSE. [100691]

Ms Quin

My right hon. Friend the Minister wrote to Commissioner Fischler on 20 October urging him to reopen the Aids to Private Storage scheme and reinstate the special refund on exports of fresh and frozen carcase meat and cuts to Russia. Officials in the Department have also discussed with the European Commission the costs faced by British pig producers because of BSE and the possibility of introducing a pig offal disposal scheme. In addition, officials attend the monthly Pigmeat Management Committee meeting, chaired by the Commission, which looks at all aspects of the situation in the EU pigmeat market. The Council of Agriculture Ministers discussed the crisis in the pig sector at its meeting on 15 November.

Mr. Drew

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the National Pig Association; and if he will publish the outcomes of those discussions. [100688]

Ms Quin

My right hon. Friend the Minister met representatives of the National Pig Association on 5 October and a joint communiqué was issued following the meeting. I will be meeting the National Pig Association on 6 December, when I hope to discuss issues surrounding the current state of the UK pig industry.

Mr. Drew

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what meetings his Department has held with representatives of the European Parliament concerning the pig industry. [100692]

Ms Quin

Although no such meetings have been held we have kept interested MEPs informed of the situation in the pig sector by correspondence and telephone briefings.

Mr. Drew

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has held with the Council of Ministers concerning pigmeat food aid exports to Russia. [100690]

Ms Quin

The subject of exports to Russia under the food aid programme was raised in the Pigmeat Management Committee meeting on 10 November. The European Commission made clear its aim of opening tendering procedures shortly for the 42,000 tonnes of pigmeat left outstanding from the earlier exercise. Discussions in the Agriculture Council have been on the Russian food aid programme as a whole rather than on specific commodities.