To ask Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest estimate of expenditure by the European Commission on the dairy sector during the 1990–91 dairy marketing year.

Estimates of EC expenditure are not available on a market year basis. The preliminary draft budget for 1991 includes provision of 4,927 million ecu (£3,433 million) for the dairy sector. This does not take account of any costs arising from German unification, which are still under consideration.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes have occurred in the level of consumption within the European Community of dairy products since 1983.

Consumption of the major milk products in 1983 and 1989, including disposals of skimmed milk powder for animal feed, was as follows: