§ 2. Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to free Channel Island milk from the requirement to be marketed through the Milk Marketing Board.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesNo, Sir. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I could intervene in this matter only if it appeared to us that the present arrangements were contrary to the public interest.
§ Mr. BiffenIs the Minister aware that many Channel Island milk producers feel that they are certainly disadvantaged by the present distributors' having a somewhat vested interest in promoting homogenised milk as the kind of premium milk to be distributed? Will he bear this very much in mind in whatever future consideration he gives to this kind of question?
§ Mr. HughesI will certainly bear in in mind what the hon. Gentleman said, but it should also be remembered that dairy farmers with Channel Island herds have secured many benefits through the milk marketing scheme, especially assured markets and stable prices, and I doubt whether they would wish to abandon these. I am not sure that it would be right to detach these breeds from other breeds.