§ Mrs. BrowningTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the 1998–99 figures for milk purchasers notified by the Intervention Board. [81965]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 23 April 1999]: The Intervention Board published provisional milk purchase figures for 1998–99 in its Notice to Traders No. MQ 12/98 dated 9 April 1999. Provisional cumulative butterfat-adjusted purchases totalled 13,951.6 million litres. This figure is subject to verification and subsequent confirmation.
§ Mrs. BrowningTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received about overstated milk purchasers notified to the Intervention Board for 1998–99. [81966]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 23 April 1999]: The Intervention Board has received a number of representations from producers and their representatives about milk production statistics and is in discussion with the industry through the Milk Quotas Experts Group. The Intervention Board relies on over 100 milk purchasers to supply production figures. As has been explained to the industry, these figures are provisional and subject to confirmation. They are not a proxy for the calculation of the 1998–99 milk levy which will be based on annual returns to be submitted by purchasers.