§ Mr. David Clarkasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many dairy herds there are in the Colne Valley constituency; what is the annual amount of milk production; and what he estimates the effect of the abolition of free school milk will have on the dairy industry in the constituency.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartThe number of registered milk producers in the Colne Valley constituency is 164. 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 4½ million gallons. The reduction of the School Milk Scheme does not take place until next year and will have no effect on Colne Valley 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 determines the guaranteed price for milk for 1971–72.