§ Mr. Lathamasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he was consulted by the Milk Marketing Board before its decision to reduce its export operations, following cuts required in milk production by the European Community; whether this reduction of exports to countries outside the Community has any implications for his policies; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. JoplingThe measures taken by the European Community to reduce milk production will result in less milk being available for processing. It is for the industry itself to decide which outlets for milk and milk products should be given priority and which are less worth maintaining at former levels. Commercial decisions on such matters by Dairy Crest—the commercial arm of the MMB—or by other manufacturers in the milk industry are not matters on which I would expect to be consulted. In practice, the industry gives first priority to the liquid milk market. Quite normally it has to vary the volume of products manufactured to reflect seasonal variations in supply in particular during the production trough of August and September. Equally, during a bad season, the industry has to cope with the consequences of reduced milk production.