48. Mr. KENNEDY JONESasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the "National Food Journal" for April, the official organ of the Food Ministry, in which the revocation of the Wholesale Milk Dealers'(Control) Order, 1918, is stated to be without prejudice to any action towards the permanent control of the wholesale trade in milk that may be decided upon by the Government; whether the Government are now considering the nationalisation of the wholesale trade in milk, and what evidence they have before them, or are collecting, to justify either the expediency or the fitness of the step?
The MINISTER of FOOD (Mr. Roberts)I have been asked to reply. The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The whole question of the desirability of exercising a permanent control over the wholesale trade in milk is being exhaustively examined by the Ministry of Food, the Departments of Agriculture, and the Local Government Board. It is expected that proposals will be placed before the Cabinet at an early date, but it will be for Parliament to decide upon the expediency or the fitness of any steps that may be proposed.
Mr. JONESHave they taken any evidence from any of the people engaged in this trade or any consumers of milk or any of the interests involved?
Mr. ROBERTSIf the hon. Member will read my reply, he will see that the whole question is being exhaustively examined, and I mean by that that all interests are being considered in the inquiries which are being made.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the principal trouble in the milk trade arises in the retail shops, and not in the wholesale trade?
§ Mr. G. LAMBERTDoes the right hon. Gentleman's inquiry include the production of milk or simply the control of it after it has been produced?
66. Brigadier-General PALMERasked the Food Controller if he is aware of the great dissatisfaction among farmers at the price fixed for milk, particularly for undelivered milk at 1s. 8d., and also of the grave effect it will have on the country districts on account of the farmers preferring to send the milk away in bulk to retailing it in the villages at the fixed price; and if he will see his way in future, before fixing prices, to consult the local food committees?
Mr. ROBERTSIt is not quite clear what prices the hon. and gallant Member has in mind, but I assume that he refers to retail prices in the first part of the question. These prices have been fixed in each area after full consideration of the local conditions of supply, and the local food control committees are always consulted before these prices are determined. There is no inducement for a farmer to send his milk away in bulk rather than retail it where a market is available, since the retail price is never fixed at a lower rate than the producer's price. If the hon. and gallant Member will furnish me with the details of the particular case to which he refers I will have inquiries made.