§ The Duke of Montroseasked Her Majesty's Government:
What has been the response of the European Commission to the National Pig Association's Meat and Livestock Commission's proposals for structural and retirement aid packages for the pig industry. [HL1828]
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Hayman)As announced in the Action Plan for Farming on 30 March, the Government have lodged a pig industry restructuring scheme notification with the European Commission. The scheme includes both an outgoers and a restructuring element. Under state aid rules, the36WA Commission must clear the scheme before it can be introduced and it has two months to respond to the notification. We still await the response, but the scheme will be introduced as soon as possible following Commission clearance.