HC Deb 12 July 1979 vol 970 cc639-40
2. Mr. Goodlad

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next expects to meet the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board.

7. Mr. Delwyn Williams

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will meet next the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board.

Mr. Peter Walker

I am in frequent contact with the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board but I have no specific plans for a meeting at present.

Mr. Goodlad

When my right hon. Friend next meets the chairman, will he discuss the arrangements that were recently agreed in Brussels? Does he accept that the butter subsidy and the arrangements for increased payments to milk producers have acted as a direct stimulus to domestic production and have been much welcomed, for example, in my constituency of Cheshire? Will he discuss with the chairman the arrangements that will be entered into after the sheep-meat and potato agreements have been finalised, when there will be a threat from imported milk? Will he—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Member has asked three supplementary questions. Hon. Members should confine themselves to one supplementary question, and I hope that future questions will be briefer.

Mr. Walker

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. We have given help to the problems of the Milk Marketing Board. As to future pressures on the board after current agreements, I am glad to be able to say that we expect the regulations concerning the board to be approved within the next few days.

Mr. Geraint Howells

Is the Minister aware that more than 1,000 dairy producers will be leaving the industry in Wales at the end of the month? Can he give us an assurance that he will safe- guard the interests of the efficient dairy producers in this country by persuading his counterparts in Europe to reform the CAP so that efficient dairy producers in this country are not subsidising the inefficient producers in Europe?

Mr. Walker

Yes. That is a basic element of our approach to the CAP, particularly in regard to the problems of milk producers. That is why I rejected the Commission's proposals on the co-responsibility levy.

Mr. Dorrell

Is my right hon. Friend aware that his stand against the Commission's proposals on the co-responsibility levy was widely welcomed throughout the dairy industry and will contribute to a significant increase in confidence in the industry?

Mr. Walker

It was vital for British dairy producers and for British agriculture as a whole that a scheme which positively discriminated against this country should be avoided.