§ Sir Raymond Gowerasked the Secretary of State for Wales, what proportion of farmers in Wales and in South Glamorgan, respectively, are predominantly dependent on milk production; and what steps will be taken to ease their problems arising from the recent European Economic Community decision.
§ Mr.Nicholas EdwardsAt June 1983 the number of farmers—including partners and directors doing farm work — on holdings which were classified in the
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1979 1980 1981 1982 *1983 Expenditure on Improvement and Conversion Grant (£) Cynon Valley 429,945 472,081 561,254 753,627 226,333 Merthyr Tydfil 270,247 388,399 193,040 272,878 546,118 Ogwr 505,022 554,263 533,333 1,119,857 414,544 Rhondda 663,151 923,997 944,565 579,485 477,038 Rhymney 305,396 431,235 341,463 287,417 181,856 Taff Ely 543,574 560,948 759,908 1,155,145 671,512 Expenditure on Intermediate and Special Grants (£) Cynon Valley — — — 12,120 17,145 Merthyr Tydfil 5,285 11,575 97,110 225,949 70,575 Ogwr 19,220 21,320 16,286 37,837 17,703 Rhondda 14,950 22,836 32,780 146,732 121,512 Rhymney 13,178 10,475 103,553 280,567 164,359 Taff Ely 11,517 13,290 18,343 61,013 581,110 Agricultural Census as "specialist dairy" or "mainly dairy" farms represented 28.6 per cent. of the total number on all holdings in Wales. The comparable figure for South Glamorgan was 34.1 per cent. The effect of the new milk arrangements, arising from the 1984–85 common agricultural policy price agreement, on individual producers will depend on what steps they take to adapt their present production systems to meet the new circumstances. Producers can continue to seek advice from my officials and from Agricultural Department Advisory Service advisers.
§ Sir Raymond Gowerasked the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the effects of the latest European Economic Community decisions on milk producers in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr.Nicholas EdwardsThe general effect on milk producers in the United Kingdom will be that their quotas will reflect 1983 production minus 9 per cent., and this will be so in Wales. The effect on individual producers will depend on the steps they take to adapt their present production systems to take account of the new measures.