§ Mr. Hicksasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list, for each year since 1979, for liquid milk and all individual milk products, the total United Kingdom output and the percentage these figures represent of United Kingdom domestic consumption; and what are the corresponding figures for all milk and milk products taken together.
§ Mr. MacGregorIn order to place all types of milk and milk products on a comparable basis which takes account of the varying butterfat content of different types of milk and milk products the table following shows production, consumption* and percentage self-sufficiency in butterfat and milk solids not fat. The figures take New Zealand imports into account as under our special arrangements they come only to this country.
54W
Year Production Consumption* Percentage Self-Sufficiency A. Butterfat ('000 tonnes) 1979 806 872 90
Year Production Consumption* Percentage Self-Sufficiency 1980 781 826 92 1981 776 803 94 1982 803 784 100 1983† 816 785 103 B. Solids not fat ('000 tonnes) 1979 1,547 1,436 108 1980 1,548 1,305 119 1981 1,531 1,262 121 1982 1,603 1,224 131 1983† 1,644 1,257 131 * Measured as "domestic disappearance" † Estimated
§ Mr. Nicholas Bakerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, following the introduction of milk quotas under the recent EEC price agreement, he will arrange for reallocation of the quotas of those leaving the dairy industry to be made in favour of smaller dairy farmers.
§ Mr. MacGregorWe are consulting industry representatives about the arrangements for the reallocation of quotas. One of the factors to be considered is the possibility of helping the small producer.
§ Mr. Nicholas Bakerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, following the introduction of milk quotas under the recent EEC price agreement, he will introduce a system under which quotas may be marketed.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe regulations enable us to lay down provisions for the management of the dairy quotas. We are considering with the various interests what provision would be suitable for our circumstances.
§ Mr. Nicholas Bakerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in the arrangements for milk quotas pursuant to the recent EEC price agreement, he will take into account when deciding upon special cases in areas, such as the Blackmore vale of Dorset, the particularly severe weather and climatic conditions in the locality in 1983.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe criteria for special cases will include amongst others, natural disasters and accidental destruction of fodder resources or buildings used for dairy livestock. All factors relevant to these criteria are being considered. I hope that we shall be able to make an announcement shortly.