§ 10. Mr. Knoxasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to have further discussions with the Council of Ministers about the milk co-responsibility levy.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithMy right hon. Friend has already made it clear to the Agriculture Council this week that he is opposed to the co-responsibility levy.
§ Mr. KnoxWill my right hon. Friend confirm that the levy is costing dairy farmers about £40 million a year? Does he agree that it discriminates strongly against British dairy farmers? Will he and his colleagues try to get rid of it?
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithYes. It is bad, not only for dairy farmers, but for consumers. If action is needed in this direction it is much better taken with regard to price rather than through a co-responsibility levy.
§ Mr. Geraint HowellsDo I take it that the Minister is in favour of co-responsibility but not in favour of the levy?
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithCo-responsibility can be applied in a number of different ways and if it brings cooperation and non-discrimination, of course it will be considered.
§ Mr. LathamDoes my right hon. Friend even accept the concept of a European dairy structural surplus when Britain is far from self-sufficient in many dairy-related products?
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithI am glad to say that in recent years our dairy industry has responded well to make the United Kingdom more self-sufficient.
§ Mr. DeakinsHave not producers any responsibility for the cost of disposing of surpluses, particularly in dairy products and other products? Does the Minister recognise no responsibility to the British taxpayer or the British consumer?
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe hon. Gentleman's question makes me wonder whether he has even examined the way in which the European Community works and whether he has noticed the decline in real terms of the price of milk. Secondly, I am interested in what the hon. Gentleman said about the co-responsibility levy. He would appear to be in favour of that levy rather than in favour of price restraint.