HC Deb 21 July 1975 vol 896 cc84-5W
Mr. Geraint Howells

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether Welsh milk producers get less for their milk ex-farm in comparison with other milk producers in the rest of Great Britain.

Mr. John Morris

Welsh milk producers receive somewhat less for their milk than do milk producers in most other parts of Great Britain. Milk prices for England and Wales are determined by the Milk Marketing Board in accordance with its regional pricing policy which takes accountinter alia of transport and administrative costs.

AMOUNT SPENT ON REGIONAL PREFERENTIAL ASSISTANCE* IN THE WELSH DEVELOPMENT AREA
1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69
Regional Aid £m. £m. £m. £m. £m.
Local Employment Act Assistance 0.8 2.5 6.9 8.6 11.9
Investment Grant Differential 9.0 14.0
Regional Employment Premium 3.9 12.2
Selective Employment Tax additional payment 3.0
Department of Employment Assistance to Industrial Training 0.1 0.5
Regional Development Grants
Selective Financial Assistance
Total for Welsh Development Area 0.8 2.5 6.9 21.6 41.6
Percentage of Great Britain total 3.0% 8.6% 15.3% 15.0% 15.2%

1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74
Regional Aid £m. £m. £m. £m. £m.
Local Employment Act Assistance 10.8 10.5 11.1 12.7 13.2
Investment Grant Differential 16.0 21.5 15.3 11.4 4.9
Regional Employment Premium 13.1 14.1 15.0 13.0 14.9
Selective Employment Tax additional payment 3.4 0.9
Department of Employment Assistance to Industrial Training 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.2 2.1
Regional Development Grants 0.9 15.3
Selective Financial Assistance 4.7
Total for Welsh Development Area 44.3 48.0 42.4 39.2 54.7
Percentage of Great Britain total 14.6% 15.4% 15.4% 15.3% 15.7%
* All expenditure is gross and no account has been taken of the differential value of tax allowances which were available at various times during these years. The boundary of the assisted areas in Wales has also been altered during the period.