§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many dairy herds are in the East Flintshire constituency; and what is the annual amount of milk production; what effect he estimates the abolition of free school milk will have on the dairy industry in the constituency; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasThe number of registered milk producers in the East Flintshire constituency is 483. Basing an estimate on the average sales of milk per cow in the region, the annual volume of milk production in the constituency might be about 12 million gallons. The reduction of the School Milk Scheme does not take place until next year and will have no effect on East Flintshire dairy farmers' incomes in the current 1970–71 guarantee year. The trend in dairy farmers' incomes will be considered with the farmers' unions at the Annual Review before the Government determine the guaranteed price for milk for 1971–72.