§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the dairy industry in Northern Ireland. [20431]
§ Mr. AncramThe dairy industry contributes some £275 million or 2 per cent. of Northern Ireland's gross domestic product. There are up to 9,900 people employed on 6,050 dairy farms and 2,800 people are employed in 39 dairy processing plants. Liquid milk accounts for only 16 per cent. of production with the remainder being processed into butter, cheese and milk powders which are marketed world wide. The milk marketing scheme was 307W revoked on 1 March 1995, thus effecting the deregulation of the industry. The average producer price for milk increased by 4p per litre in 1995.