East Devon MP Hugo Swire has called on the Government to reassure the public about the safety of eating British pork.

East Devon MP Hugo Swire has called on the Government to reassure the public about the safety of eating British pork.The MP was concerned that the recent Swine influenza outbreak would have a detrimental effect on the British pig industry which is currently undergoing difficulties in the West Country. Mr Swire raised the issue in Health Questions to The Secretary of State for Health Alan Johnson. Mr Swire said: " The British pig industry has been having a particularly hard time of it recently, so the chief veterinary officer's remarks this morning reassuring people about the safety of eating pork were most welcome; only the New Zealand farming industry to date has issued a statement saying, "Don't stop eating pork." Has the Secretary of State met his colleague, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to discuss reassuring the public about the safety of eating pork and, if necessary, diverting funding to promote a safety in eating British pork campaign?"In response Mr Johnson said: "I have just spoken to my right hon. friend, and I will speak to him again at the Cobra meeting immediately following this statement, at which we will discuss that. My right hon. Friend tells me what the hon. Gentleman already knows: we do not have any pigs or pig products from Mexico in the UK.