§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the levy paid per litre by farmers who pasteurise their own milk and then sell it retail;
(2) what assessment he has made of whether the producer processor levy, the retail processor levy and the farm pasteurising levy are compatible with the payment of FEOGA refunds.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonProducer retailers currently pay a contribution of 3.369 pence per litre to the Milk Marketing Board. I do not regard these arrangements (or the similar producer processor arrangements) as having any bearing on the payment of FEOGA refunds.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what basis he instructed the Milk Marketing Board to withdraw the farmhouse cheese makers levy in 1987; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonI assume the hon. Member is referring to the Milk Marketing Board's decision to end the farmhouse cheesemakers' scheme (FCS) on 28 February 1987. The board's decision reflected my concern that the FCS milk pricing and allocation system risked distortion of competition between cheesemakers, and might therefore be regarded as contrary to the Community rules governing our milk marketing arrangements.