HL Deb 19 July 2004 vol 664 cc21-2WA
Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they plan to improve transparency in the dairy supply chain; and, if so, how they will seek to do so. [HL3667]

Lord Whitty

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, in its reportMilk Pricing in the United Kingdom, recommended that the Dairy Supply Chain Forum look at ways of improving transparency. It is on the agenda for discussion at the Forum's next meeting on 21 July.

Defra has made a grant of nearly £0.5 million for the Food Chain Centre's work to improve efficiency in the dairy supply chain. Its work on value chain analysis in the dairy sector could be helpful in improving transparency, since it should not only help participants understand the costs of others in their supply chain, but also help them work together to eliminate cost and improve margin for mutual benefit.