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Milk
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he plans to have with the (a) Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers and (b) National Union of Farmers on the price for milk paid to farmers. [76175]
Barry
Gardiner: The Government share farmers’ concerns
over the low farmgate price of milk and Ministers meet regularly with
both representatives of
the diary industry and the NFU. However, price negotiations between
producers and processors, are a private commercial matter in which
Government cannot get involved, as long as competition rules are
respected.
Mr.
Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much (a)
liquid milk and (b) milk powder was (i) imported and (ii)
exported in each of the last three years.
[82488]
Barry Gardiner [holding answer 4 July 2006]: The following table shows exports from the UK and imports into the UK of liquid milk and milk powder for 2003 to 2005.
| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | |||||
| Trade | Type | Tonnes | £000 | Tonnes | £000 | Tonnes | £000 |
| Source: H M Revenue and Customs Data prepared by Trade statistics, Agricultural Statistics and Analysis Division, DEFRA 2005 data is subject to amendments | |||||||
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the liquid whole milk equivalent volume of (a) imports and (b) exports of milk-based products in each of the last three years. [82489]
Barry Gardiner [holding answer 4 July 2006]: It is not possible to provide overseas trade estimates for the different milk products in liquid milk equivalent. It is a complex calculation which can lead to double counting as different components of liquid milk can be used to manufacture different products. The following table shows the UK trade in milk products in tonnage and value for 2003 to 2005.
| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | |||||
| Trade | Description | Tonnes | £000 | Tonnes | £000 | Tonnes | £000 |
| Source: H M Revenue and Customs Data prepared by Trade statistics, Agricultural Statistics and Analysis Division, DEFRA 2005 data is subject to amendments | |||||||
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the sustainability for dairy farmers of the price paid to them for milk. [78386]
Barry Gardiner: Price negotiations between producers and processors, are a private commercial matter in which Government cannot get involved provided competition rules are respected.
Dairy
farmers are currently facing a number of challenges, including farmgate
prices. In line with the ‘Strategy for Sustainable Farming and
Food’, the Government are working alongside the industry to
facilitate and support its future development. For
example, the Dairy Supply Chain Forum is providing information to help
the dairy industry make informed decisions about its future in a world
with much freer trade and lower
prices
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average price per litre paid to (a) farmers, (b) purchasers and (c) supermarkets for milk was in each month in each year since 1997. [82451]
Barry Gardiner [holding answer 4 July 2006]: The information requested is as follows.
(a) The table shows monthly weighted average farm gate milk prices in pence per litre for the United Kingdom.
The average prices are calculated from monthly surveys of milk purchasers conducted in England and Wales by Defra, in Scotland by SEERAD and in Northern Ireland by DARD.
The farm gate price is the average price received by producers, net of delivery charges. No deduction has been made for superlevy.
(b) Prices paid by retailers to milk purchases are not available.
(c) Prices are derived from the Expenditure and Food Survey and are for the top five shops (in terms of value of food and drink purchased) as identified in this survey. Prior to 2001-02 this information was collected as part of the National Food Survey and cannot be broken down by retail outlet in this way.
| Supermarket price (liquid wholemilk) | Farmgate price (including bonus payments) | |
| (1)
Pence per
litre. | ||
National Water Grid
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what discussions he has had with the water industry regarding proposals for a national water grid; and if he will make a statement; [82576]
(2) what plans he has to develop a national water grid; and if he will make a statement. [82852]
Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 16 June 2006, Official Report, column 1448W.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to consult the water industry on national water plans. [82853]
Ian Pearson: A meeting with representatives from across the water industry was held on 1 June, to discuss the provision of water resources over the short, medium and long term.
All water companies have water resources plans, which reconcile supply and anticipated demand over a 25-year horizon, in their own areas of supply.
The production and maintenance of water resources management plans will become a statutory requirement under the Water Act 2003. A consultation on the proposed water resources management plans regulations washeld between 31 January 2006 and 25 April 2006. The consultees included water companies. The new regime will commence in April 2007.
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