§ 60. Mr. WRIGHTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, under the British Cheese Order 5, all makers of cheese, whatever business connection they have built up with wholesalers, retailers, or consumers by their industry, are required to nominate one factor, approved by the Ministry of Food, to receive their whole production and so to sacrifice the goodwill of their business; whether the factor is to receive ¾d. per lb. on all such cheese and to have an absolute discretion to deduct a further ½d. per lb. under the provisions as to grading; and whether he will explain the favourable treatment extended by the Ministry to middlemen at the expense of the producer and the consumer?
§ Mr. PARKERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but I cannot agree that this arrangement, which has been approved by an Advisory Committee on which both producers and retailers are represented, will have the effect suggested by the hon. Member. The remuneration to be received by the factors has been fixed at 2½ per cent., a figure which, after a careful investigation of the cost of distribution, was considered 1046 to be the average under normal conditions. In order to encourage the production of cheese of good keeping quality, grading is considered to be desirable, but the actual variation in price has not yet been decided upon.
§ Mr. WRIGHTIs it not the fact that ½d. in the lb. has always been the customary trade allowance?
§ Mr. PARKERI am afraid that I am not able to give an answer to that.