HC Deb 28 October 1987 vol 121 cc309-10W
Mr. John Marshall

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current price of liquid milk in Britain; how this compares with the price in other EEC countries; and what is his assessment of the effect on the price differential of the Milk Marketing Boards' monopoly.

Mr. Donald Thompson

The retail price of ordinary pasteurised milk varies from 20p per pint to 27p per pint depending on the packaging used and the type of retail outlet through which it is sold. The price range is even wider if other types of drinking milk are included. Comparison with the price in other member states is therefore very difficult and is further complicated by currency fluctuations and by differences in fat contents. There is, however, no evidence that our milk marketing arrangements result in a price to the consumer which is out of line with that in other member states.