asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries (a) the current price payable to creameries for butter, (b) the prices received at present by suppliers of different quantities of milk with and without the quality bonus and (c) the average, maximum and minimum prices now paid by creameries for skim milk.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk and Butter Prices.
45.
As the answer is mainly in the form of tabular material, I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.
Following is the information:
(a) £469 per ton in the case of purchases by An Bord Bainne.
(b) Prices paid for milk by creameries out of their own resources depend on such factors as the individual creamery's operational and marketing efficiency, extent of diversification of its production, volume of store trade, etc. and, accordingly, vary from one creamery to another. The allowances paid by the Exchequer form a very substantial part of the total milk price received by creamery suppliers. In the case of the milk price allowance the amount payable varies according to a producer's annual deliveries as follows:—
|
Rate of allowance per gallon |
||
|
Up to 7,000 gallons |
5p |
As from 1/9/71 these will merge into a single 4p tier at the rate of 5p. |
|
7,000—10,000 gallons |
4p |
|
|
10,000—30,000,, |
3p |
|
|
30,000—40,000,, |
1½p |
|
|
40,000—50,000,, |
1p |
|
|
50,000—60,000,, |
½p |
|
|
Over 60,000 gallons |
Nil |
The Exchequer milk quality allowance which is also payable is at the rate of 1p per gallon.
(c) Prices paid by creameries for skim milk in 1970, which is the latest period for which complete returns are available, were:—
|
Maximum |
5.2 old pence per gallon |
|
Minimum |
1.7 ,, ,, ,, ,, |
|
Average |
3.44 ,, ,, ,, ,, |
The prices currently being paid show an improvement on those for 1970.
46.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the average price per gallon paid for milk in each of the member countries of the EEC in the farm year 1969-70; and the reason for the difference, if any.
The reply is in the form of a tabular statement which, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report. As regards the differences in prices, these arise from such factors as variations in quality, in delivery arrangements, in end use and in the levels of efficiency in processing and marketing.
Following is the statement:
Milk—Average Prices in EEC countries in 1969-70
(April/March).
|
Approximate price in new pence per gallon (a) |
Notes |
|
|
Belgium |
15.9 |
Milk (Class II) with 3.3% fat content; producer price, ex-farm. |
|
France |
14.8 |
Fresh milk for all purposes; 34 grammes of fat per litre; producer price, ex-farm. |
|
Germany |
18.6 |
Fresh milk, for all purposes; average quality; producer price, free to dairy. |
|
Italy |
21.8 |
Fresh milk for direct consumption; producer price, ex-farm. |
|
Netherlands |
17.9 |
Milk with 3.7% fat content; producer price, ex-farm. |
|
Luxembourg |
18.7 |
Milk with 3.7% fat content; producer price, ex-farm. |
(a) For conversion purposes a fat content of 3.7 per cent has been assumed for France, Germany and Italy.
Source:“Prix Agricole” No. 6, June, 1971—published by the Statistics Office of the European Communities.
May I ask that this answer be read out? I accept that where there is a complex answer, it is acceptable to give it in tabular form but this particular question consists of six figures and it is not possible for us to ask supplementaries when the question is being answered by way of tabular statement. Where material is simple, as is the case when there are only six figures involved, surely the reply could be read out?
It is not as simple as that. While what the Deputy says about the answer consisting of six figures is correct, I want to remind him that the purposes for which the milk is used in each case of the six figures varies somewhat and the details of these variations are tabulated also. It would be rather complex for me to read out the six figures together with these variations. When the tabular statement is circulated, I think the Deputy will realise that that is the case.
47.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the target price for milk and the intervention prices for butter and skim milk in the EEC in 1969-70 and 1970-71; the prices agreed for 1971-72; and the prices proposed by the EEC Commission for 1972-73.
The reply is in the form of a tabular statement which, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
Dairy Products—EEC Common Price Data.
|
1969-70 |
1970-71 |
1971-72 |
1972-73 (proposed) |
|
|
Milk—Target price, delivered at dairy; per gallon (a) |
19p |
19p |
20p |
20.52p |
|
Intervention Prices: |
||||
|
Butter per ton |
£734.44 |
£734.44 |
£753.47 |
£753.47 |
|
Skim milk powderper ton |
£174.61 |
£174.61 |
£198.95 |
£209.60 |
(a) Converted from units of account (1 u.a. = 1 US $) per 100 kg. for milk with 3.7 per cent fat content to new pence per gallon for milk with 3.5 per cent fat content.