§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals United Kingdom Ministers have put to the EEC to stimulate milk consumption.
§ Mr. BishopFormal proposals are a matter for the European Commission. We have, however, consistently emphasised our regard for the maintenance of a high level of milk consumption and have, therefore, welcomed such measures as the butter subsidy which was agreed by the Council of Ministers in the spring. More recently, we have supported the school milk scheme, pressed for co-responsibility finds to be used for promoting liquid milk consumption, and underlined the rôle of the Milk Marketing Boards in maintaining scales of liquid milk in this country.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many dairy farmers have applied to leave milk production under the EEC compensation scheme.
§ Mr. Bishop703 applications under the Non-Marketing of Milk and Milk 491W Products and the Dairy Herd Conversion Premium Regulations 1977 had been received up to 14th November 1977.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present estimate of the milk price support that the EEC will have to expend in the next year.
§ Mr. BishopChapter 62 of the European Communities' Draft General Budget for 1978, as amended by the letter of amendment adopted by the Council on 7th October 1977, estimates expenditure in the milk and milk products sector as 2,914.6 million EUA (£1897.9 million). This figure is net of estimated receipts of 214.2 million EUA (£139.5 million) under the Co-responsibility Levy. Amounts in European units of account are converted at £1 = 1.5357 EUA.