Agriculture: Dairy Industry

Lord Williamson of Horton Excerpts

Monday 26th July 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord De Mauley]

My Lords, I am grateful for that question because it allows me to explain that the coalition programme for government, published on 18 May, made a commitment to introduce an ombudsman into the Office of Fair Trading to enforce the GSCOP and to curb abuses of power that act against the long-term interests of consumers. As to the when, about which the noble Baroness asked, we are awaiting the results of the consultation exercise within BIS. This will guide our decision on how best to enforce the GSCOP, which, as I have said, the coalition Government have agreed should be done through an ombudsman.

[Lord Williamson of Horton]

My Lords, as a former head of the milk division in the Ministry of Agriculture and the owner of a milk churn presented to me by dairy farmers, may I invite the Minister to agree that we have excellent dairy farmers here and excellent natural conditions in the United Kingdom for the production of milk from grass? In order that we can all have the benefit of these advantages, can we make a special effort to ensure that milk is produced and marketed in fair conditions?