Oxfordshire MP Shaun Woodward has highlighted the cash crisis facing two pig farmers in his constituency.

He tackled agriculture minister Elliott Morley in the Commons on the problems facing the pig industry.

Witney MP Mr Woodward told him: "Every week, I visit in my constituency pig farmers who are suffering and in danger of going bankrupt - some have gone bankrupt.

"Two of them, Jamie Bell and Christopher Maughan, have given me their figures, which show the serious nature of the problems that they face. "Mr Maughan has a pig farm that produces 5,000 pigs a year. Last year, he lost £25,000. He cannot go on in business for much longer.

"He will very probably have to make three members of his staff redundant."

Mr Woodward said the farmer was aware the Government had introduced regulations to help with disposal of animals that allowed £5.26 per pig.

He added: "He urgently requires compensation to stay in business, but he feels the Government is ignoring his protestations and the problems of everyone else in the pig industry who need help from the Government now before they go bankrupt. What do the Government intend to do?" Mr Morley admitted: "There is no doubt the pig industry faces serious problems. The Government has introduced measures to assist the industry. We have talked to retail groups about progress on their labelling commitment."

He added: "We are doing everything that we can to assist, within the State Aid rules. We are constrained because we must work within those rules."

Story date: Monday 29 November

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.