§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many representations she has had urging her to tighten import controls on meat from(a) the Meat and Livestock Commission, (b) the NFU and (c) others. [75143]
§ Mr. MorleyFrequent high-level meetings, at both ministerial and official levels, have been held with representatives of the NFU and, to a lesser extent, the MLC. Both the MLC and NFU sit on the Illegal Imports Risk Assessment Steering Group. Ben Gill, NFU President, addressed the Illegal Imports Stakeholders' Forum held on 21 March 2002. Also present were the International Meat Trade Association, British Meat Manufacturers' Association, National
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000 tonnes 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 20011 Beef and veal Home-fed production 973 888 947 1,002 710 698 699 679 706 645 Imports 206 209 190 212 169 217 152 183 197 253 Total new supply2 1,014 885 844 880 799 901 842 853 892 889 Mutton and lamb Home-fed production 401 402 395 403 383 351 385 403 389 265 Imports 127 129 120 147 156 152 141 137 134 116 Total new supply2 376 347 354 356 376 362 380 386 390 334 Pork Home-fed production 810 813 836 791 801 888 931 831 725 610 Imports 91 113 116 168 200 177 190 235 274 254 Total new supply2 768 796 798 771 806 817 829 831 790 807 Bacon and ham Home-fed production 189 216 233 245 241 239 236 233 209 197 Imports 234 238 224 228 261 240 231 230 268 268 Total new supply2 418 450 451 467 497 471 459 457 468 460 Poultrymeat Home-fed production 1,217 1,277 1,356 1,415 1,476 1,520 1,545 1,525 1,513 1,564 Beef Association, National Pig Association, National Sheep Association, World Wildlife Fund, UK Association of Frozen Food Producers, Local and Port Health Authorities, British Airports Authority and British Ports Association. Meetings of foot and mouth disease stakeholders groups have been held regularly this year, addressing the issue of illegal imports. We have also received a substantial number of written representations from individuals, and organisations including the W1, Townswomen, Councils, legal firms and agricultural equipment suppliers.