§ 58. Mr. Messerasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the present inequitable distribution of milk is causing dissatisfaction; and whether it is proposed to institute a fairer system of rationing?
Major Lloyd GeorgeAny scheme for adjusting to an increased demand the reduced supply of milk available during the winter must ensure that mothers, infants, children and invalids whose need for milk is greatest, obtain priority treatment. This must mean that adult consumers can only receive the balance of milk available. 755 Owing to local variations in production from day to day and the perishable nature of milk, it is necessary to make available for immediate consumption all milk which is produced. A strict rationing scheme would result in a considerable wastage of milk and it is by no means certain that rationing would ensure a more equitable distribution than the present method.
§ Mr. MesserIs the Minister not aware that this matter is causing intense dissatisfaction, that, in regard to the priority classes, the form issued by the Food Office excludes certain classes of case, such as asthmatical cases, and that the ease with which some people can get medical certificates should be looked into? Is he not also aware that in some parts of the country a quantity of milk is returned to the depots because it has not been consumed?
Major Lloyd GeorgeI cannot answer all those points without more notice. I am aware that in certain cases there is, perhaps, abuse regarding certain types of priority milk, but they are very small in scale compared with the number with which we are dealing.
§ Mr. StokesCan the Minister assure the House that no liquid milk is now being sold to factories for manufacturing purposes?
62. Major Lloydasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the Kinning Park Co-operative Society, Limited, of Coburg Street, Glasgow, are 472 gallons of liquid milk per day short of their requirements to enable them to supply all priorities, and give each registered adult customer two pints per week; and whether, in view of the recent announcement that there was sufficient liquid milk to give every adult two pints per week after all priority demands had been met, he will take immediate steps to see that the milk supplies to this society are increased accordingly?
§ 60. Mr. Gallacherasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has considered the letter from the Markinch Co-operative Society, Limited, raising the question of milk sup- 756 plies, and sent to him by the Member for West Fife; and what steps does he propose to take to provide fairer treatment for the co-operative societies?
Major Lloyd GeorgeSupplies of milk in Scotland have been insufficient to meet the needs of dairymen as shown on their certificates of requirements. These certificates prescribe the quantities to be provided for priority customers and two pints per week for each non-priority adult. I am investigating the possibility of applying the cut in Scotland in such a way that it represents a fixed amount for each non-priority consumer instead of a percentage cut which had previously been adopted. I will communicate to my hon. Friends the results of these inquiries.
§ Mr. BarnesIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that that situation prevails also in many districts in England and Wales?
Major Lloyd GeorgeYes, Sir, but the position in Scotland is worse, because the actual supply position in Scotland is worse.
§ Mr. Henderson StewartWill the right hon. and gallant Gentleman let us all know in Scotland what is the result of this change?
Mr. MacleanIs it not the case that this particular society has been kept short of milk for quite a long time now, and will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman look into the case?
§ Mr. MathersWill the arrangements now made by the Ministry remove the specially privileged position of customers of producer-retailers as compared with those who get their milk in the way the co-operative societies have to obtain theirs?
Major Lloyd GeorgeNot in the rural areas, because it would, as the hon. Member knows, be quite impossible.
Mr. McNeilSince the right hon. and gallant Gentleman knows that the supply position is so bad in Scotland, can he give us an assurance that no milk is being exported from Scotland?
Major Lloyd GeorgeYes, Sir; on the contrary, we are making every effort to get milk into Scotland. Unless we know what the registrations are, we cannot know what the demand is, and I regret to say that in the hon. Gentleman's constituency 25 per cent. of the people had not registered up to a week ago.
65. Mr. McNeilasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will revise the methods of allocating milk supplies so that the necessary percentage reductions to retailers are applied only after priority supplies have been allotted in full so that the reductions will thus be spread proportionately throughout all retailers except those specifically exempted in rural areas?
Major Lloyd GeorgeDairymen have been instructed to reduce their supplies of milk to adult non-priority customers to not more than two pints per week with effect from the 23rd November. The previous method of reducing dairymen's sales by a percentage on the total quantity is no longer in operation.
Mr. McNeilIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that despite the fact that 25 per cent. of the people in my constituency have not registered, there are still adults not receiving two pints per week?
Major Lloyd GeorgeI am aware of that, and I pointed out earlier that, as the loss in production in Scotland is greater than it is in this country, we are doing all we can to equalise the position.
§ Mr. WoodsIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that a large number of people have not registered because they have not found a dairyman who can guarantee supplies?
Major Lloyd GeorgeIt has taken them a long time to discover that, as they were told to register last September.