§ 22. Mr. Peter Millsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further steps he is taking to secure increased consumption of home-produced milk products in order to reduce the share of the market taken by imported milk products which are subsidised.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesIt is for the industry to promote consumption of United Kingdom dairy produce.
§ Mr. MillsSurely the whole trend at the moment is a national disgrace bearing in mind our economic problems? Will not the Minister make a decision and tell the House what he is to do about heavily subsidised imports to this country?
§ Mr. HughesThe hon. Member asked me what steps I was taking
to secure increased consumption of home-produced milk products".I told him that it was for the industry to promote this consumption. This it is doing very effectively through advertisement and publicity.
§ Mr. GodberIs not the right hon. Gentleman dodging one part of the Question which refers specifically to reducing
the share of the market taken by imported milk products ".Is he not aware of heavy dumping of cheese and other milk products on our markets for the last 12 months? Will he address himself to that part of the Question, which my hon. Friend quite fairly asked?
§ Mr. HughesThe right hon. Gentleman knows that butter imports are governed 1704 by quotas and there is protection. Hon. Members must know that cheese imports are being discussed by the President of the Board of Trade in response to an anti-dumping application made by the Milk Marketing Board and the National Farmers' Union.