Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will bring forward legislative proposals to make mandatory the use of written contracts between farmers and dairy companies. [41816]

James Paice MP; Minister of State (Agriculture and Food): Proposals on the use of written contracts between farmers and milk processors are currently progressing through the EU legislative process as part of the Commission's proposed dairy package. As drafted, these would allow member states to decide whether or not to make such contracts compulsory in their territory.

The Government's preference on contracts is for the least prescriptive approach, leaving the detail of contracts for contracting parties to agree. A decision on any domestic legislation relating to these proposals cannot be made until the legislation contained in the proposal is in its final form.