asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether a European Community scheme of aids to encourage the private storage of pigmeat will be introduced in the current year.

I am glad to say that the management committee has decided to introduce such a scheme as from 6 May. The scheme will give traders the option of receiving assistance for storing pigmeat at a time when this may be preferred to putting the rest onto the market.British traders have made greater use of these aids in recent years and I hope they will again take full advantage of this year's scheme.