§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment she has made of the impact of the Competition Report into the operation of the former dairy producer co-operative Milk Marque; [153484]
(2) what recent assessment she has made of the progress of farmer co-operatives created following the break up of Milk Marque. [153485]
§ Mr. SutcliffeFollowing publication of the Monopoly and Mergers Commission report "Milk: a report on the supply in Great Britain of raw cows milk" in July 1999, the Milk Marque co-operative voluntarily split into three independent enterprises—Axis, Zenith and Milk Link. All three are still operating, although Axis and Zenith subsequently merged with other enterprises and now trade as Dairy Farmers of Britain and First Milk respectively.