Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, welcomes an update on the pig sector from farming Minister, Victoria Prentis MP, following his recent meeting with her.
The local MP met the Minister last month to put to her the concerns of his pig farmer constituents who have been unable to move their livestock on at the right time, leading to processors slashing prices as the pigs then sent to them are overweight. Farmers have been losing around £25 per pig according to East Wolds and Coastal Conservative Councillor Charlie Dewhirst, who also works for the National Pig Association.
Graham said “It was imperative I met with the farming Minister to put to her face-to-face my pig farming constituents’ concerns, especially given that the East Riding accounts for as much as 37% of the entire country’s pig livestock. I know she understood the impact of the difficulties faced right now by the pig industry and she undertook to see what else could be done to alleviate the situation.”
Graham met the Minister again last week, this time with the Secretary of State the Rt Hon George Eustice MP, to raise the urgent issue of culling pigs on farms and continuing problems with a backlog of pigs unable to move off farms.
This week the farming Minister has issued an update on the pig sector following her meeting with Graham and after holding a pig industry round-table. She is launching an immediate UK-wide review of supply chain fairness in the pig sector, with a consultation expected later this year. This will be an opportunity for pig farmers in Beverley and Holderness to have their voices heard.
The Minister has also undertaken to discuss the situation facing pig farmers with the major banks. The banks have told her they remain keen to be supportive with their doors open to farmers to come and speak to them. The Minister highlighted that, if farmers do not find their bank supportive, she would like to hear about this via the National Farmers’ Union or National Pig Association.
Graham commented “I was really pleased to meet both the Secretary of State and the farming Minister. They do seem to be listening and are committed to working with the pig sector, both in the short-term and the long-term. I am equally committed to representing my pig farmers at the highest level of Government and welcome hearing from my farmers with the challenges they face.”
