HC Deb 21 November 1991 vol 199 cc414-5
11. Mr. Martlew

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board to discuss the board's future role.

16. Mr. Knox

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he is next due to meet the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board to discuss the dairy sector.

Mr. Gummer

I last met the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board on 6 November.

Mr. Martlew

Is the Minister aware that the Milk Marketing Board has served the country well since 1933, especially in my area of Cumbria? Will the Minister acknowledge that there are major concerns and worries among dairy farmers in this country? Will he tell the dairy farmers and the House that he will support the MMB as it stands now, despite all the attacks from the EEC?

Mr. Gummer

Anybody who said, "This company has remained the same for 60 years, so please invest in it" would receive a dusty answer from anybody who was sensibly involved. The world has changed over the past 60 years and that is why the Milk Marketing Board has said that it has to change. The Labour party has a policy of telling the MMB that it does not know its own business and that it should not change but go on as it has for the past 60 years. Once again, the Labour party shows that it knows nothing about farming, cares even less, and hopes to win a vote or two for the most reactionary policy known in Britain.

Mr. Knox

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the apprehensions felt by dairy farmers in my constituency about the future level of their incomes? Does he propose to take any action to reassure them?

Mr. Gummer

I am very much aware of that and that is why, as my hon. Friend knows, the Milk Marketing Board has been concerned to change its structure in order to defend the income of his constituents and others. In general, over the past 10 years, the receipts of dairy farmers in Britain have been lower than most in the rest of Europe, but consumers have paid more for liquid milk than in the rest of Europe. Therefore, the Milk Marketing Board is right to seek changes and the Labour party is wrong to try to stop it.