HC Deb 14 February 1985 vol 73 cc254-5W
4. Mrs. Kellett-Bowman

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current projected output of liquid milk in relation to quota in 1985.

Mr. Jopling

It is not this Department's policy to issue projections of production.

31. Mr. McQuarrie

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to bring forward proposals to permit milk producers to have full interchangeability between their retail and wholesale quotas when the necessity arises.

Mr. Jopling

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory) on 17 January at columns498–99.

32. Mr. Phillip Oppenheim

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he will take to ensure that Britain's milk quota is not further reduced in 1986.

Mr. Jopling

National quotas for 1985–86 and for the following three years are set out in the Community regulations on the milk supplementary levy. A Community reserve quantity exists to deal with special difficulties in implementing the quota system: the size of this reserve quantity and allocations from it are subject to annual decision. Although the quotas are set substantially in excess of Community consumption of milk and milk products, no proposals for reduction in the existing national or reserve quantities have been made by the Commission. I would certainly oppose any changes which discriminated against United Kingdom milk producers.

34. Mr. Neil Hamilton

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when it is anticipated that the work of the milk tribunals in dealing with appeals for extra quota will be completed.

Mr. Jopling

I anticipate that the work of the England and Wales quota tribunal will be completed next week, apart from a small number of cases which cannot be resolved until later.