§ 40. Mr. Cryerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total gallonage per month of milk being thrown away under EEC milk to beef rules in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. BishopFarmers who decided to join the EEC Dairy Herd Conversion Scheme before 31st December 1974 when the scheme was suspended had until 30th June to cease milk production to meet the conditions of the scheme. Inquiries have disclosed that only six farmers with 360 cows had allowed themselves insufficient time to run down production and were no longer in a position to dispose of their milk commercially after 30th June. As 587W far as I am aware, none is still in that position.
§ 47. Mr. Charles Morrisonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what he regards as the minimum acceptable number in terms of cow numbers and total milk gallonage in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. PeartI have made no such assessment since I am interested in securing the optimum level of production rather than the minimum.
§ 61. Mr. Bryant Godman Irvineasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what success he is having in expanding milk production; and what reductions in imports of milk and milk products have been achieved.
§ Mr. BishopThe announcement of a further increase in the guarantee for milk is consistent with the Government's policy of reversing the present downward trends and achieving an expansion in milk production from our own resources.
Imports of milk products have been relatively high in the last year, partly because of the decline in milk production and partly because of the increase in consumption of both liquid milk and milk products.
§ Mr. Goodladasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the levels of milk production in Cheshire in the years 1972–73, 1973–74 and 1974–75, respectively; and what is the estimated level for 1975–76.
§ Mr. BishopSales of milk in Cheshire through the Milk Marketing Scheme were as follows:
1972–73 … … 140.8 million gallons 1973–74 … … 139.9 million gallons 1974–75 … … 140.1 million gallons It is not the practice of my Ministry to make forecasts of milk production for individual counties.