Memorandum submitted by Malcolm Ronald,
Milk Producer (L8)
As a milk producer in the Southern Isles Ring
Fence area I would like to make the following points to your enquiry:
1. The plight find themselves in is a direct
result of the abolition of the Milk Marketing Boards, by the previous
government (Conservative). Milk processors and supermarkets now
control milk supplies and the result is an ever diminishing share
of the value of milk and dairy products to the milk producer.
2. As a result of demonstrations by farmers
during the last year, supermarkets increased the price of liquid
milk and cheese "supposedly" to enable the farmer to
receive a price increase. Unfortunately very little reached the
farmer. This cynical profiteering should be stopped and a way
found to ensure dairy farmers receive a fair share of the value
of what they produce.
3. One of the present government slogans
is "A Fairer Britain", but how can it be fair that farming
families have to work longer and harder, meeting ever more stagnant
farm assurance standards, yet receiving hardly any award, whilst
processors and supermarkets eg Dairycrest, Robert Wisemans, Graham's
Dairys and Tescos, all announce record increases in profit?
January 2004
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