Written question asked by Ian Liddell-Grainger (Conservative) on Wednesday, 8 May 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 May 2002. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Thursday, 16 May 2002 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to support organic yoghurt and cream farm producers. - Includes figure.

Answer: Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to support organic yoghurt and cream farm producers. [55630] Mr. Morley: We have already made considerable support available to encourage conversion to organic farming and will continue to do so. We have budgeted expenditure of £140 million over the lifetime of the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP), which should triple the area under organic management by 2006. And, through both the Rural Enterprise Scheme and the Processing and Marketing Grant, the ERDP provides opportunities for these sectors of the industry to improve their competitiveness. The development of the organic sector will be carried forward by an organic action plan which is being drawn up with stakeholders. We hope to complete this work by July.

Secondary information