HC Deb 06 April 1984 vol 57 cc679-80W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give an estimate of the total value to the United Kingdom dairy industry of the lost production which comes as a result of the milk production quotas agreed at the Council of Agriculture Ministers in Brussels.

Mr. MacGregor

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) who will decide the new milk production quotas for individual dairy farmers; how these quotas will be calculated; and what special arrangements will be made for difficult cases;

(2) how the new milk production quotas agreed at the meeting of the Council of Agriculture Ministers in Brussels on 30 and 31 March are to be implemented.

Mr. MacGregor

As announced on 4 April the detailed arrangements for introducing and administering the supplementary levy scheme are to be discussed in Brussels on 6 April. Until the detailed Community legislation has been completed it is not possible to decide finally the arrangements for introducing the supplementary levy in the United Kingdom or other EC Member States. Notices will be sent to individual producers as soon as possible describing how the United Kingdom reference quantity is to be allocated and setting out other information concerning the administration including the method of establishing quantities for individual producers and special arrangements for difficult cases. Depending on progress in the discussions in Brussels it is hoped that this further information will be sent to producers during next week.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect the new milk production quotas are likely to have on the size of the United Kingdom dairy herd.

Mr. MacGregor

The supplementary levy on milk agreed by the Council of Ministers on 30–31 March will be applied on production above specified reference quantities. The effect of the levy on the size of the United Kingdom dairy herd will depend on the decisions of individual producers about how they should respond to the levy. In some cases they may decide to reduce cow numbers and in others they may cut back milk deliveries by changing their management of herds or by increasing the utilisation of milk on the farm.