§ 37. Mr. Heathcoat-Amoryasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements have been agreed for the leasing of milk quotas for 1987–88.
§ Mr. JoplingThe European Commission have expressed serious doubts about the legality of our quota leasing arrangements. I am trying hard to change their minds on this and am in direct communication with the Commission on the problem.
§ 52. Sir Peter Millsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he will give to the Milk Marketing Board over the allocation of milk for manufacturing purposes following the introduction of the quota system.
§ Mr. GummerThe arrangements for making milk available to buyers are a matter for the joint committee of the Milk Marketing Board and the Dairy Trade Federation to negotiate in accordance with the milk marketing scheme and relevant provisions of Community law.
§ Mr. Maxwell-Hyslopasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is transferring milk quota bought under the outgoers' scheme from England to Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Gummer[pursuant to his reply, 22 April 1987]: As I announced to the House on 31 March we are making an adjustment to the distribution of United Kingdom quota which involves the transfer of 30,000 tonnes from Great Britain to Northern Ireland with effect from 1 April 1987. It is hoped that this quota can be bought up under a national outgoers scheme, which we plan to open shortly, but in order to ensure that the required quota is available a provisional quota reduction of about 0.3 per cent. is being made.