DAIRY FARMING IN THE NORTH EAST

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 North East; 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' cooperatives to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of the retail price of milk.