§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the present state of the dairy industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsThe dairy industry in Wales is passing through a difficult period as a result of the long dry summer and the introduction of the milk quota scheme. However, the measures we have introduced, including the reserve for special cases and the outgoers scheme, will help to ameliorate the effects of quotas on those most harshly affected and the industry will have a sounder base from which to plan for the future. In addition, the aid to small milk producers scheme is being continued for a further two years and many dairy producers will benefit from the extension of the less favoured areas.
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§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has regarding the current levels of milk production in Ireland, France and Germany; and if he will make a statement.
Table: Cows Milk Delivered to Dairies, 1984 '000 tonnes April May June July August Ireland 638.30 835.50 773.70 694.74 592.40 France 2,515.40 2,844.10 2,561.40 2,295.60 1,966.10 Germany 2,303.70 2,446.99 2,185.60 2,108.06 1,936.00 Source: Eurostat.
§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has now received a comprehensive report from the European Economic Community regarding the application of the quota system for milk in other member states; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsI refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. McQuarrie) on 14 November 1984, at columns 295–96.
§ Sir Raymond Gowerasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many dairy farmers in Wales and in the Vale of Glamorgan, respectively, have applied under the outgoers scheme; how many in each case have been rejected; and what further consideration may be possible in cases which were rejected.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsThere were 728 applications under the current milk outgoers scheme in Wales, of which 12 were in the district of the Vale of Glamorgan.
No dairy producer who made a valid application within the terms of the scheme has yet been rejected. Offers have so far been made to applicants with individual quotas of up to 250,000 litres (but excluding those in which milk production accounted for only a small proportion of the farm business). Further offers are likely to be made to progressively larger producers as some of those provisionally accepted withdraw their applications or are found not to be fully eligible to participate.