asked the Minister for Agriculture if the proposed EEC milk levy will apply to liquid milk producers as well as creamery suppliers.
Written Answers. - EEC Proposed Milk Levy.
403.
Yes.
404.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he has made any alternative proposals to the proposed EEC levies on milk production in view of the inherent limits to the EEC budget and, if so, if he will outline these proposals.
I have informed the Council of Ministers that the supplementary levy proposal is unacceptable to me but that I would be prepared to consider reasonable alternative measures to help to restore the balance in the milk sector so long as these apply in principle to all who produce milk rather than simply to those who happen to increase production. For instance, the European Parliament have indicated how a somewhat higher basic co-responsibility levy could result in the scale of savings in the milk sector which Parliament themselves have sought. A final decision on the Commission proposals would of course have to involve the settlement of a number of related issues, including the question of imports of New Zealand butter.