HC Deb 16 July 1984 vol 64 cc67-8W
Mr. Latham

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest position regarding the proposal for transferability of milk quotas; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. MacGregor

The revised draft Dairy Produce Quota Regulations, which were laid before the House on 11 July, will make it possible for a producer who moves to a different farm to have his quota transferred to the new farm, provided the person taking over the original farm and the landlord (where appropriate) agree to this. The regulations will also make it possible for a producer who has more wholesale quota than he needs but not enough direct sales quota, or vice versa, to exchange quota with a producer in the opposite position.

Mr. Latham

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest position regarding direct sales of dairy produce, following the introduction of milk quotas; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. MacGregor

It was possible to give direct sellers guidance on how the quota system would be applied to them only after the Commission resolved a number of important points and agreement was reached on a further regulation on 14 June. We issued guidance to all producers on direct sales quotas in the following week immediately these matters had been settled. As soon as the United Kingdom regulations governing the milk supplementary levy have been approved by both Houses and come into effect, we will be writing to all milk producers inviting those with direct sales to register as direct sellers and to apply for an allocation of direct sales quota.