Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the causes of recent changes in the price of milk.

Milk prices are falling as a result of the ban on dairy imports to Russia and falling returns from global commodity markets. Despite these challenges, the long-term outlook for UK dairying remains positive. Over the next decade, the UK dairy industry estimates global demand to rise by 2.5% a year with growing world incomes and an expanding population. UK dairy exports are already at record levels and we will continue to encourage and support our domestic farmers and processors to develop their businesses.