16.01.2015
As a global overproduction cuts the price of a two-litre carton of milk to £1 and the largest dairy firm First Milk delays payments to farmers, the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee is launching an urgent inquiry into the milk pricing crisis.
Rob Gibson MSP, Convener of the Committee said: “First Milk’s actions represent only the latest devastating blow for dairy farmers. Since 2002 there has been a steep decline in the number of dairy farmers in Scotland, defeated by rock-bottom prices and rising costs.
“The Committee is urgently seeking to address the plight of our dairy farmers. It is crucial that we work to find a way to supply milk at a reasonable cost that can sustain the dairy industry in Scotland. In the coming weeks we will be taking evidence from those on the frontline: the dairy farmers themselves.”
Mr Gibson continued: “Milk is a staple for most Scottish households. But many dairy farmers are now having to supply processors at less than the cost of production while the supermarkets are selling milk at unsustainable prices.
“We want to see a good long term future for the industry in Scotland and therefore we will be looking for explanations from the processers and supermarkets on the steps they are taking to address what is a very worrying situation for the country, the industry and individual producers.”
Background
The Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee’s inquiry into milk pricing will commence with an evidence session on January 28th 2015. Further details on those giving evidence to be issued to the media in the coming weeks.
The Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee (RACCE) scrutinises policy proposals relating to rural affairs, climate change and the environment. It comes to a view after taking comprehensive evidence from, and engaging with, a wide range of stakeholders ‘on the frontline’ and applies authoritive, expert, effective and influential scrutiny to policy.
Photographs of the Committee and Convener are available free of charge.