asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in view of the 17 per cent increase granted to Civil Service staff, he will consider granting 4d to 5d increase per gallon to milk producers to correspond with this increase.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk Price.
60.
An increase of 1d per gallon on the first 7,000 gallons of annual milk supply has been granted to creamery suppliers in the current season, and the position of the dairying industry will continue to be kept under review in the light of changes generally in agricultural income and in incomes in other sectors of the economy. The high level of Exchequer support for milk, which is now at the rate of more than £30 million per annum or over half of the entire return to creamery suppliers for their milk, is positive evidence of the Government's interest in the welfare of dairy farmers and the development of the dairying industry.
Will the Minister accept that every creamery milk producer in almost every creamery is accepting a reduction this year of from 1d to 3d per gallon for milk? Is he aware of that? If the Minister says that the position is being kept under constant review, has he considered that aspect of it?
The projection I have got indicates that all farm cash income from cattle-dairying will increase by £1½ million in the current year and that farm cash income from milk will increase by £1.2 million in the current year.
Has the Minister anything on the expenses side, on costs of production?
That would reduce it somewhat but it would still be on the credit side. If the 1970 intake were only the same as the 1969 intake at 526 million gallons these figures would be reduced to about .9 million gallons.
Is the Minister saying that the income to the milk supplier is increased this year by 17 per cent to keep it in line with the Civil Service staff to which the question refers.
The mathematics of that particular suggestion are rather complicated but I think if the Deputy analyses it he will find that the treatment accorded to milk producers is pretty comparable, all things considered, to the increases given to the civil servants.
The Minister is about the only person who believes that.
If the Deputy considers all the relevant factors, he will find that what I say is correct.
He should tell that to the ICMSA.