Dairy Industry (Hansard, 30 March 1998)

§ Ms Walley
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what assessment he has made of the impact on farmers in North Staffordshire of the latest Milk Marque selling round; what estimate he has made of the impact of this round on milk prices in April; and if he will make a statement; [37044]
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(2) what assessment he has made of the competitiveness of United Kingdom manufacturing capacity for butter powder relative to other EU member states; and if he will make a statement; [37046]
(3) if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's manufacturing capacity for butter powder. [37045]

§ Mr. Rooker
At the request of the Director General of Fair Trading, the Monopolies and Mergers Commission are currently examining the supply of raw milk in Great Britain. Issues such as these may be considered in the course of that inquiry.

§ Ms Walley
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the future of the milk quota system. [370411

§ Mr. Rooker
The Commission's Agenda 2000 proposals in the dairy sector include: the extension of milk quotas for a further 6 years until 2006; a reduction of 15 per cent. in support prices over 4 years; the introduction of a direct payment or dairy cow premium; and an average 2 per cent. increase in milk quota at Community level.
These proposals, which will be the subject of careful negotiation, would represent some improvement over current arrangements, but do not go far enough.

§ Ms Walley
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he proposes to assist the United Kingdom dairy industry in export markets. [37042]

§ Mr. Rooker
Our noble Friend the Parliamentary Secretary recently organised a cheese seminar attended by leading figures from the dairy industry to consider ways in which they could develop the United Kingdom's export potential.

§ Ms Walley
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much milk was(a) produced and (b) consumed in the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available. [37043]

§ Mr. Rooker
The figures for 1997 are:

United Kingdom milk production, supply and utilisation: 1997¹

Million litres

Gross production of milk from the dairy and beef herds² 14,415

Imports of raw milk³ 131

Exports of raw milk³ 267

Total supply 14,280

Utilisation by dairies for drinking milk⁴ 6,749

Utilisation by dairies for manufacturing 7,113

Dairy wastage and stock change 112

Other uses⁵ 306

Total domestic use 14,280

¹ Provisional

² Includes 7 million litres of milk from the beef herd. Excludes suckled milk.

³ Milk imported or exported as packaged drinking milk is excluded.

⁴ Represents consumption of drinking milk in the UK, as little is imported or exported. In 1997 imports of packaged drinking milk were 89 million litres, exports were 80 million litres.

⁵ Includes farmhouse consumption, milk fed to stock and on farm waste. Excludes suckled milk.

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United Kingdom milk production, supply and utilisation: 1997¹
Million litres
Gross production of milk from the dairy and beef herds²	14,415
Imports of raw milk³	131
Exports of raw milk³	267
Total supply	14,280
Utilisation by dairies for drinking milk⁴	6,749
Utilisation by dairies for manufacturing	7,113
Dairy wastage and stock change	112
Other uses⁵	306
Total domestic use	14,280
¹ Provisional
² Includes 7 million litres of milk from the beef herd. Excludes suckled milk.
³ Milk imported or exported as packaged drinking milk is excluded.
⁴ Represents consumption of drinking milk in the UK, as little is imported or exported. In 1997 imports of packaged drinking milk were 89 million litres, exports were 80 million litres.
⁵ Includes farmhouse consumption, milk fed to stock and on farm waste. Excludes suckled milk.