§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will set up a meeting with milk producers, representatives of supermarkets, dairy farmers and members of her Department to discuss farmgate prices of milk. [156507]
§ Alun MichaelPrice negotiation between producers and processors, or processors and supermarkets, are a private commercial matter in which the Government cannot and should not get involved, as competition rules have to be respected It would be inappropriate for me to discuss private price negotiations and I have no plans to do so. However, Ministers frequently meet representatives from all parts of the dairy supply chain and are therefore aware of the issues. The Dairy Supply Chain Forum, chaired by my noble Friend Lord Whitty, has been looking at collaborative solutions to improve supply chain efficiency, and address some of the other underlying causes of low farmgate prices.