§ Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what percentage milk production in the EU now exceeds consumption; and how the surplus is disposed of.
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 21 November 1994]: According to the European Court of Auditors' Report for 1993 surpluses of milk products amount to the equivalent of approximately 10 per cent. of Community consumption.
Community intervention stocks of butter have been reduced from 1,283,303 tonnes in 1986 to 81,249 tonnes now. Over the same period, intervention stocks of skimmed milk powder have been reduced from 959,865 tonnes to 82,942 tonnes now.
The Government have pressed successfully for reductions in support prices. For example, since 1989 the intervention price for butter has been reduced from 306.94 per 100 kg to 265.17 per 100 kg for 1994.
There are several subsidised disposal schemes for surplus dairy products. For butter they include sales at a reduced price for the manufacture of bakery products, sugar confectionery and ice cream and the subsidised use of butter in the manufacture of concentrated butter for cooking. There are also subsidies for the use of skimmed milk in the manufacture of animal feed and for processing into casein and caseinates. In addition, subsidies are available for the consumption of milk and certain milk products in schools.