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Pigs

Volume 698: debated on Monday 21 January 2008

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Marine, Landscape and Rural Affairs, Jonathan Shaw, on 10 December 2007 (Official Report, cols. 39-40W), what assessment they have made of the effect of the drop in the number of pigs in breeding herds from 629,915 in 1998 to 374,861 in 2007; and what steps are in place to reduce this decline. [HL1265]

Information on UK breeding pigs and pigmeat production is collected in various forms by Defra; for example the United Kingdom Pig Notice, published quarterly, includes statistics on breeding herds, slaughter and trade.

The number of pigs in breeding herds declined after 1998 for several reasons including the effects on productivity of animal diseases, and also the recovery of the beef market following BSE, the costs of production, exchange rate movements and increased competition from imports. The government-funded Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme of 2000-01 was brought in to help secure the longer-term viability of the sector. The decline in the breeding herds has slowed in recent years although the industry continues to face considerable challenges. It is to be commended for working to secure a sustainable future through market principles and improvements in efficiency and production standards. Defra is supportive of the efforts of the industry and is currently funding a £2 million programme through the Meat and Livestock Commission to aid market recovery in the pigmeat and other red meat sectors affected by last year's foot and mouth outbreak.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What were the figures for the importation of pig meat into the United Kingdom for each year during the period 1998 to 2007. [HL1266]

The tables below show the volume and value of pigmeat imported into the UK each year since 1998 as recorded in the official trade statistics.

Volume of Pigmeat Imports into the UK

Tonnes

Year

Pork, frozen

Pork, fresh or chilled

Pig offal, fresh, chilled or frozen

Pig meat and offal (other than liver) prepared or preserved

Bacon, ham, etc.

Total volume of pigmeat

1998

56,049

99,850

18,463

53,677

231,397

459,436

1999

66,799

147,654

18,833

41,884

231,303

506,473

2000

72,883

172,651

28,176

45,671

267,925

587,308

2001

71,658

167,521

22,882

45,945

281,305

589,311

2002

74,850

201,077

18,524

45,365

291,634

631,450

2003

107,690

272,815

21,371

43,164

303,181

748,220

2004

95,683

287,800

20,120

52,622

301,721

757,946

2005

85,646

346,343

18,826

50,505

283,413

784,733

2006

81,643

377,125

18,360

53,289

263,961

794,378

Jan-Oct

2007

74,729

302,623

12,863

51,410

227,163

668,787

Value of Pigmeat Imports into the UK

£000s

Year

Pork, frozen

Pork, fresh or chilled

Pig offal, fresh, chilled or frozen

Pig meat and offal (other than liver) prepared or preserved

Bacon, ham, etc.

Total value of pigmeat

1998

51,430

124,343

8,636

105,7061

375,518

665,633

1999

53,493

161,867

5,747

102,778

398,902

722,787

2000

65,698

209,453

5,839

117,000

456,352

854,343

2001

73,051

262,707

10,679

129,366

568,136

1,043,939

2002

66,024

265,004

8,649

118,922

568,519

1,027,117

2003

90,421

373,530

9,104

116,828

622,626

1,212,510

2004

95,145

401,834

9,577

141,440

547,871

1,195,868

2005

103,859

486,213

11,434

159,731

528,036

1,289,273

2006

104,716

577,713

10,927

174,040

550,241

1,417,637

Jan-Oct

2007

91,130

451,714

7,472

156,405

451,810

1,158, 531

© Crown Copyright

Source: H M Revenue and Customs.

Data prepared by Trade Statistics, Agricultural Statistics and Analysis Division, Defra.

2007 data are subject to amendments.