HC Deb 18 February 1920 vol 125 cc891-2
Mr HINDS (by prirate notice)

asked the Minister for Food, whether he was aware that during the past 24 hours the milk producers in the South Wales area have ceased to supply the milk wholesalers, and whether in view of the serious consequence of this Act to densely populated areas affected he will intervene and call a conference, of the interested parties?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of FOOD (Mr. McCurdy)

I regret that by an accident I only received notice of this question a few minutes ago: but my attention had already been called to the fact that at the present moment there appears to be an extensive strike of milk producers in South Wales, and in Glamorgan, Monmouthshire and some other counties very large portions of the milk supply are at present being withheld from distribution. I am fully alive to the seriousness of the situation, and I will have inquiries made; indeed, I had already directed inquiries to be made.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Is the hon. Member aware that a very large number of wholesalers have repudiated the prices which have been fixed by the Food Controller, and have fixed prices of their own, and that the milk producers have declined to fall in with those prices?

Mr. McCURDY

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. It is not a question of prices fixed by the Food Controller. As I understand it, this is a dispute between the Welsh producers of what is a reasonable price.

Mr. HUGH EDWARDS

In view of the seriousness of the position, will the hon. Member expedite the inquiries, and not confine them to communications which never come to an end?

Mr. McCURDY

Yes. As promptly as possible inquiry will be made.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Are we to understand that Bolshevism is spreading amongst the farmers?