§ Mr. Galeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he makes of the prospects that wholesale milk producers in England and Wales may have to pay supplementary levy in 1984–85; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. JoplingWe have opted to use formula B—the dairy quota system—in England and Wales. This means80W that, to the extent that some wholesale producers undershoot their quotas, it is possible for others to overshoot without being penalised. No one will lose quota because they undershoot this year, but equally others who may want to overshoot can thereby benefit.
In the period April-September 1984 deliveries to the Milk Marketing Board in England and Wales were 9.4 per cent. down on the same period of last year. For 1984–85 as a whole we need to be only 6.1 below 1983–84 in order to avoid any levy being payable. This means that so long as production in the period October 1984 to March 1985 is at least 2.6 per cent. lower than in the same six months of 1983–84, no levy will be payable at the end of the marketing year in respect of deliveries to the Milk Marketing Board.