§ 34. Mr. Stodartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the additional costs which will have to be borne by milk producers during the next 12 months; what these costs are; and what additional income it is estimated milk producers will receive as a result of the awards made in the recent Price Review.
§ Mr. BuchanKnown cost changes are assessed on a United Kingdom basis and cannot be precisely allocated to individual commodities. The determinations at this year's Review increased the value of the guarantees to Scottish milk producers by about £330,000.
§ Mr. StodartIs the hon. Gentleman aware that Scottish milk producers will inevitably be heavily out of pocket as a result of this Review because of the rise in the price of feeding stuffs and fertilisers? When the right hon. Gentleman says that it is no use increasing dairy herds unless there is an increase in the sales of liquid milk, why cannot he consider the potential savings in imports of cheese and butter?
§ Mr. BuchanThe hon. Gentleman knows the complexity of this problem. In his earlier argument he ignored the problem that arises in connection with milk products. There are other aspects of the Review which will be of benefit to most farmers in addition to dairy farmers.