§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have been made to him by the National Farmers' Union on the profit margins of milk producers and the likelihood of many going out of business; and what replies he has sent.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris) on 16th October and to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Sillars) on Thursday 18th October.—[Vol. 861, c. 94–96; Vol. 861, c. 288–289.]
§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers have gone out of milk production during the last two years; what discussions he has had with the National Union of Farmers about producer price differentials in the Common Market which affect British farmers' production prospects and which may cause farmers to slaughter dairy cows: and 594W what assurances he has given arising from these discussions.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartThere were 87,225 registered milk producers in the United Kingdom on 31st March 1973, compared with 95,514 on 31st March 1971. We are in regular touch with representatives of the industry about the main factors influencing producer price differentials, and the National Farmers' Unions have the assurance that their views can be taken fully into account when these questions are under discussion in the Council of Ministers and elsewhere.