§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest estimate of expenditure by the European Commission on the dairy sector during the 1990–91 dairy marketing year.
§ Mr. CurryEstimates of EC expenditure are not available on a market year basis. The preliminary draft budget for 1991 includes provision of 4,927 million ecu (£3,433 million) for the dairy sector. This does not take account of any costs arising from German unification, which are still under consideration.
§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes have occurred in the level of consumption within the European Community of dairy products since 1983.
§ Mr. CurryConsumption of the major milk products in 1983 and 1989, including disposals of skimmed milk powder for animal feed, was as follows:
'000 tonnes 1 1983 2 1989 Butter 1,520.0 1,571.0 Skimmed Milk Powder 1,606.0 1,057.0 Cheese 3,631.0 4,134.0 1EC10 2EC12