Dairy Farming In The East Midlands

EDM number 478 in 2004-05, proposed by Patrick Mercer on 12/01/2005.

That this House notes with concern the recent Milk Development Council Report highlighting the drop in farmgate prices for milk while supermarket margins on milk have increased significantly; recognises the pressure this is putting on farmers in the East Midlands; is further concerned that the average dairy farmer earns just ú2.90 an hour for a 70-hour week; and calls on the Government to toughen up the Supermarket Code of Practice and to do more to encourage farmers' co-operatives to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of the retail price of milk.

This motion has been signed by a total of 46 MPs.