§ 86. Mr. JOHNSTONasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, seeing that the proportion of the State subsidy for the maintenance of the price of milk which has been expended in the subsidy of British produced condensed milk for export has reached the figure of £50,000, he will consider the drafting of new regulations providing that milk surplus to ordinary market requirements will in future be disposed of in bulk to hospitals, infirmaries, and local authority clinics at reduced prices, with a view to the improvement in public health?
§ Mr. ELLIOTThe subsidy to which the hon. Member refers is, as he is no doubt aware, payable under Section 1 of the Milk Act, 1934, which made provision for payments from the Exchequer in respect of all milk sold for manufacture at a price less than the cheese milk price as defined in the Act. The proposal put forward would involve fresh legislation, and while I am always glad to receive any suggestions with regard to future policy, I cannot undertake to consider the introduction of legislation to amend provisions which, under the existing Statute, expire on 31st March next.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Scottish chairman of the Milk Marketing Board has declared that his board is perfectly willing now to supply surplus milk to local authorities at cheap prices, but that he is forbidden under the terms of the Order to which the right hon. Gentleman referred?.
§ Mr. ELLIOTI would suggest that any question referring to the Scottish Milk Marketing Board should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONBut does that Order not apply to both England and Scotland?
§ Mr. ELLIOTClearly I should require notice of that question.