§ 14. Mr. Hal Millerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tons of skim milk powder will be imported each year if the incorporation scheme now under review is approved.
§ Mr. BishopOur import requirements would depend on a number of factors and no estimate can be given at the present time.
§ Mr. MillerIs the Minister aware that apart from the concern of many poultry 611 and pig breeders that the use of milk powder may result in an increase in the price of their compound ration of £6 per ton there is a great deal of uncertainty over the properties of this skim milk, some of which went into intervention before June 1973, which may have serious effects on its keeping properties and on production? What investigations have been made into this most serious aspect?
§ Mr. BishopThe present stocks in the Community amount to 1.1 million tons. That figure must be reduced urgently. The only practical way of dealing with such a large quantity is by incorporating it in animal feeding stuffs. However, the quantity is relatively small and the direct effect on retail prices should be relatively small.
§ Mr. MartenAs one who voted against entering into the EEC, may I ask the Minister to explain why the British people have to pay for the dried milk mountain in the Common Market when we had nothing to do with incurring it?
§ Mr. BishopThis matter is under review and we agree that various aspects still have to be clarified. On the subject of skim milk, I note the capacity of the hon. Gentleman to make mountains out of mole hills.