HC Deb 04 December 1980 vol 995 cc276-8W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what number of representations his Department has received from local branches of the National Fanners' Union; whether he has received such a representation from the Cheshire county branch; and how many letters his Department has received from individual dairy farmers about the EEC co-responsibility levy for milk producers.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

Since June 1980, my Department has received one letter about the milk co-responsibility levy from a local branch of the National Farmers' Union, and two from individual farmers. We have not received any representations from the Cheshire county branch of the National Farmers' Union. We have had representations also from right hon. and hon. Members of this House.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received from the National Farmers' Union and the Scottish Milk Marketing Board about the EEC co-responsibility levy for milk producers; and what reply he has given.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The vice-president of the National Farmers' Union wrote to my right hon. Friend on 14 October about the European Court of Auditors' report on the co-responsibility levy. My right hon. Friend's reply was in similar terms to those given in this House to my hon. Friend the Member for Howden (Sir P. Bryan) and the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) on 30 October. We have received no representations from the Scottish Milk Marketing Board on this subject. [Vol. 991, c. 678–9.]