§ 45. Mr. J. E. B. Hillasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the increase in the supply of dried milk products, both from home and overseas, over recent years; and what steps he is taking to restrain these to a level which does not oversupply the home market.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesWith permission, I will circulate details in the OFFICIAL REPORT. There has been little change in total United Kingdom supplies of dried milk in recent years. Imports have fallen, while home production has increased. The current market situation does not appear to give cause for concern, but the Government are watching the situation 1336 closely, and co-operating actively in the efforts being made in the G.A.T.T. to stabilise the world market in skim milk powder.
§ Mr. HillWill the Minister say whether the Milk Marketing Board is satisfied with the effects of the present policy?
§ Mr. HughesThe Milk Marketing Board is bound to be satisfied with the present trend, which I think is satisfactory. I hope the hon. Gentleman will read carefully what I shall circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Since 1965 the import of whole milk powder has declined from 23,400 tons to 16,200 tons. This is the trend that I have described as very encouraging.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsDoes not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the import of dairy products, including dried milk, is one of the main factors in lowering the level of returns to the dairy farmer? Will he, in the coming Price Review, ensure that the manufacturing price of liquid milk is raised so that we have a bigger share of our home market for our dairy products?
§ Mr. HughesThe hon. Gentleman must know very well the position in relation to imports of milk products from his own time in the Ministry of Agriculture. There are quotas on butter which we apply severely, always concentrating carefully on the home stock. We have a voluntary restraint agreement for cheese. It is right for the House and the country to appreciate that cheese and butter account for over 90 per cent. of all milk product imports. There is this control, and, as I have just said, on balance the trend is satisfactory.
§ Following is the information:
| '000 tons | |||
| Whole Milk Powder | |||
| Home Production | Imports | Total | |
| 1965 | 25.5 | 23.4 | 48.9 |
| 1966 | 27.5 | 23.8 | 51.3 |
| 1967 | 22.9 | 27.2 | 50.1 |
| 1968 | 24.1 | 18.3 | 42.4 |
| 1969 | 23.2 | 16.2 | 39.4 |
| '000 tons | |||
| Skimmed Milk Powder | |||
| Home Production | Imports | Total | |
| 1965 | 67.2 | 48.4 | 115.6 |
| 1966 | 59.4 | 30.1 | 89.5 |
| 1967 | 72.5 | 38.2 | 110.7 |
| 1968 | 94.6 | 37.7 | 132.3 |
| 1969 | 88.2 | 27.7 | 115.9 |
| '000 tons | |||
| Buttermilk and Whey Powder | |||
| Home Production | Imports | Total | |
| 1965 | 12.3 | 8.7 | 21.0 |
| 1966 | 10.4 | 4.5 | 14.9 |
| 1967 | 13.6 | 4.3 | 17.9 |
| 1968 | 12.4 | 5.3 | 17.7 |
| 1969 | 14.2 | 6.2 | 20.4 |