asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that suck pigs are being bought at prices ranging from £4 to £5 each despite the fact that ten years ago, when meal was £5 per ton cheaper, they were selling at from £6 to £7; and if so, if he will consider providing a subsidy to help producers over the crisis.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pig Production Subsidy.
81.
The Deputy's figures are not correct. The prices of bonhams were not higher ten years ago and pigmeal prices were then dearer, not cheaper, than they are now.
Pig production is, of course, subsidised through the system of guaranteed minimum prices for good-quality finished pigs.
My figures are quite correct. I sold pigs myself at the time. They may not be correct to this extent, but I was informed yesterday that suck pigs are being sold at from £3 to £3 10s. and that meal prices at that time were £26 or £27 a ton. I should like to ask the Minister if he believes this is a trivial matter and does he want to see the small farmers of the country wiped out by high costs of production and low prices for their produce. They are definitely selling their pigs today at a much reduced price compared with 10 years ago.
I do not follow the Deputy in his general argument. It is not true to say prices for pigs are lower than those of 10 years ago, and it is not true to suggest either that feeding stuffs are dearer than they were 10 years ago. In his question the Deputy suggests that we provide a subsidy. We are subsidising pig production very heavily. In fact, as I I have already indicated, we will be announcing an increase in pig prices later this year.
At what dinner will the Minister announce that?
Where is the Minister getting his information about feeding stuffs?
From the published figures.
Is that for ingredients of compounds or compounds themselves?
Feeding stuffs generally.
Did the Minister not see that maize was costing £38 per ton last week?
The remaining questions for oral answer will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.