§ Lord O'Haganasked Her Majesty's Government:
By how much milk production in the United Kingdom has decreased since the introduction of quotas; by how much milk production has decreased in other member states; and whether quotas are fairly and fullv applied throughout the EEC.
§ Lord BelsteadIn the period April to October 1984 milk deliveries to dairies in the United Kingdom decreased by 8.79 per cent. compared with the same period in the previous year. The latest information available for deliveries to dairies in other member states is given in the following table:
Change April-August 1984 compared with same period in 1983 Germany -3.68% France +0.85% Italy +0.57% Netherlands -4.36% Belgium -1.96% Luxembourg -3.48% Ireland +4.11% *April-June Denmark -5.32% **April-July Greece +0.66% The Government have been most concerned that all member states should be implementing the supplementary levy according to the Community-regulations. My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food again pressed the Agriculture Commissioner on this issue at the Council of Agriculture Ministers in Brussels on 12th–13th November. It became clear that, although most of those member states who were required to collect levy were able to do so, the French Government was not ready to charge the levy this month. Since this would give rise to unfairness, the majority of member states asked the Commission to change the present rules so that the first collection of levy would relate to the period to the end of December to enable all member states to proceed in parallel. The Commission have now extended by ten days the time allowed for the first levy payment to enable them to consider the views expressed in the Council.
The Government continue to regard the fair application of the system as a matter of the highest importance.