MPs Say Supermarkets Charging Farmers Too Much

Fri, 20 Oct 2006
 
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In Lancashire MPs have demanded a fairer price for the purchase of milk, with UK farmers currently fearing their livelihoods are under threat from big supermarkets underpaying them.

The MP for Chorley, Lindsay Hoyle, has recently launched a campaign calling for a minimum fee of 20 pence a litre for all British milk producers.

Mr Hoyle has spoken on behalf of farmers saying that many of them fear being forced out of business because of the money they receive from the big supermarket stores. Some receive as little as 17 pence a litre and therefore profit margins are being squeezed. "We want the Government to protect UK farmers," said Mr Hoyle.

"We want to be able to provide a future for British farming, so we need to ensure they get a fair deal . It is accepted that 17 pence a litre is not enough. A farmer needs at least 20 pence a litre and we want the Government to guarantee that", he concluded.

The Chorley MP has tabled a House of Commons motion calling for immediate action to be taken. 24 members have signed it so far, including the Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans and David Borrow, the MP for South Ribble.

The motion calls on the Government to "work with supermarkets to ensure UK dairy farmers have a viable and sustainable future by establishing a minimum farm-gate price set for milk at 20 pence per litre".

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