§ 8. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the Advisory Committee on the Milk Order has recommended an increase of 3d. per gallon on the price of milk as from 15th June; whether this recommendation has been made as the result of pressure from farmers in the South of England; whether he has received representations from the Cheshire Milk Producers' Association that, in view of the present supplies of summer milk, such increase in price would not be warranted at the present time; and what is the intention of his Department on this question?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of FOOD (Captain Bathurst)The Advisory Committee on Milk included in their Report a recommendation that the price of milk should be increased by 3d. per gallon as from the 15th June. This recommendation was based upon the evidence, not only of farmers in the South of England, but also of those in the Midlands and in Scotland. A resolution to the effect indicated in the question has been received from the Cheshire Milk Producers' Association. The recommendation referred to was not approved by the late Food Controller, and no action has been taken on it. I am not in a position to state what may be the views of the new Food Controller on the subject.