Oral Answers to Questions

Dan Poulter Excerpts
Thursday 12th May 2011

(13 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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I am extremely grateful to the Minister. I am trying to help Back-Bench Members, but in topical questions we must have single, short, supplementary questions and short answers.

Dan Poulter Portrait Dr Daniel Poulter (Central Suffolk and North Ipswich) (Con)
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T6. British dairy farmers such as Graham Tibbenham from Weybread in my constituency are struggling to be paid a fair price for their milk by British supermarkets. I am sure that the Minister would like to help. What can his Department do?

James Paice Portrait Mr Paice
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I know the dairy industry, and many sectors face great difficulties, particularly with regard to price. The Government are about to publish proposals— we trust with all-party support—for a groceries code adjudicator, which we hope will go a long way towards helping with that. There are measures, too, going through the EU with regards to contracts. We do not think that they are the sole answer, as some do, but we think that they are a step forward.