§ Mr. HurstTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of reasons for the decrease in milk prices over the last year; and if he will make a statement. [44122]
§ Mr. RookerIn March this year, milk producers received an average of about 19.7p per litre, which was nearly 4p lower than for the same period in 1997. The main factor was probably the strength of sterling and the related revaluations of the green pound. More generally, at the request of the Director General of Fair Trading, the Monopolies and Mergers Commission is currently454W investigating the supply of raw milk in Great Britain. It is due to report to the President of the Board of Trade in October.