§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the proposed increase of 60 per cent in the maximum levy chargeable by the Milk Development Council is justifiable in the present state of farming; and whether they will ask the National Audit Office to examine the finances of the council. [HL1102]
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Hayman)Levy payers voted in favour of the increase when they were polled last autumn. The books of the Milk Development Council are always open to National Audit Office inspection. We see no need to ask it to undertake any specific examination.