THE Government must work morning, noon and night to end dairy farmers’ milk price plight, a junior minister has said.

Rory Stewart says the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will look at potential changes to taxes and exports to help farmers.

According to latest Whitehall figures, the price of milk fell to 24.99 pence a litre in March, taking it close to recession levels.

Since hitting a high of 33.95 pence in February last year, milk’s value has steadily dropped, though production has continued to rise, with more than 1.2 million litres made in March.

Critics have long blamed the price drop on supermarkets cutting prices in their ongoing battle for trade, and Mr Stewart, made Defra Parliamentary Under Secretary of State after the General Election re-shuffle, said a solution has to be found.

He told The Northern Echo: “The dairy farmers are a very important part of our country and they have been facing a tough time.

“The prices have fallen and it’s been really hard for those people at the farm gate.

“We know there is going to be a demand for milk and its associated products, and we have to help farmers until that comes.

“We need to think morning, noon and night about them.”

Mr Stewart, MP for Penrith and The Border, said he was relishing his new role within Defra, acknowledging it was important more areas, including businesses, receive broadband internet connection to boost their reach.

He said: “I’m very excited and pleased to be in the role.

“I spent many years getting frustrated with the Government about how they could do things better for rural areas, but now I’ve got the chance to do something.

“I’m very keen to make sure that I’m out and about and speak to as many people as possible within rural communities.

“I want to make the countryside work for everyone; for the people who live and work there, but also those in urban areas who visit.

“Broadband is crucial too, because rural communities can be isolated.

“But if you get it right, you can remove those barriers.”