Agriculture (Northern Ireland)

Part of the debate – in Westminster Hall at 10:08 am on 14 December 2005.

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Photo of David Simpson David Simpson Shadow Minister (Trade and Industry) 10:08, 14 December 2005

I agree 100 per cent. with my hon. Friend's comments. Recent television programmes have shown the situation; he mentioned the pig sector, about which a programme was made. It showed how much it took to produce a pig up to a certain stage and how much people were losing by doing so. They took that same pig and transferred it into the retail side at the supermarkets; the price for the same weight was 10 times more. There is no doubt that we need an inquiry and we need fair play. That returns to my earlier point that it is imperative that there is a closer working relationship between the processor, the producer and the consumer. That must be done for the industry to survive. I hope that the Minister will take my points on board.

My hon. Friend mentioned waste material and the renewable energy methods that need to be examined in the industry. A system called anaerobic digesters is currently being researched and operated in Northern Ireland. A company is experimenting, trying to develop an anaerobic digester that will take much of the waste material that he spoke of, along with the blood and other animal waste from the meat plants, not only from the beef sector but from the pork and poultry sectors. It will make a viable fertiliser for the ground, which will deal with the nitrates problem and all the difficulties in the industry.

However, the company has come up against some difficulties, which derive from the lack of investment. It is a family with a private farm who have moved into this area and are forward thinking. Some problems have been caused for local residents, involving the odours coming from the plant. It is important that, although we are trying to help the company develop an anaerobic digester, we take on board the concerns of residents.

My hon. Friend mentioned the money that has been put aside by the Government to examine different sources and alternative uses for waste material. I would encourage them to consider helping the company to do further research in this area. We have in Northern Ireland one or two rendering plants for disposing of dead animals and other waste, but that is not the future; the future is anaerobic digestion, which we need to examine closely. I ask the Government to examine it and perhaps to contact the company to see whether there is any way that it can be helped. I know that Lord Rooker wrote a letter to the company and that it was not too promising. Will the Minister use her influence to see whether something can be done? It is obviously the future for the industry.