HC Deb 27 April 1922 vol 153 cc724-5
Mr. HURD

(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will communicate to the House the results of the Milk Conference which he summoned on the eve of the Recess, and especially the details of the justification advanced by the distributors for the difference of 1s. per gallon between the price charged to the consumer and that paid to the farmer for his milk delivered at the London railway termini?

Sir A. BOSCAWEN

A statement giving the results of the Milk Conference was communicated to the Press, and I will have a copy printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT. AS the result of the conference was an agreement between the producers and distributors, I do not think it is desirable to issue any detailed statement of the arguments advanced by either side, but broadly the distributors maintained that having regard to the whole of the costs and risks involved in distribution they would be unable to carry on their business if the producer were paid a higher price than that offered.

Mr. HURD

Did the right hon. Gentleman not promise before the Recess that he would publish the essential facts elicited at the conference both as to distribution and production?

Sir A. BOSCAWEN

In the statement which I sent to the Press all the essential facts were mentioned. The real essential fact is that although the price of milk is not to be raised to the public, at all events to the end of June, the farmer, on the average, will get 2½d. per gallon more for the next six months than he would have done under the old agreement. I do not say that that altogether meets the farmers' point of view, but that was the agreement which was reached, and I think we must all stand by it now.

Mr. HURD

As a matter of fact has not the right hon. Gentleman received representations from many farmers in his own constituency stating that they cannot produce milk at the price?

Sir A. BOSCAWEN

I have not had any representations in regard to this agreement by any of my constituents.

Mr. HURD

I have.

Following is the statement referred to by the Minister: At a meeting held at the Ministry of Agriculture on Wednesday, 12th April, 1922, under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Agriculture, Sir Arthur Griffith Boscawen, the representatives of the producers and distributors announced that they had agreed to recommend to the organisations concerned that the price to be received by the producer for milk delivered into London from areas outside the Home Counties should be: April, 10d.; May and June, 9d.; July, 11d.; August and September, 1s. per gallon, which represents an average for the six months of 10½d. per gallon. The price to be paid for milk delivered to creameries within 100 miles by rail of London should be as follows: April, 9d.; May and June, 6d.; July, 7d.; August, 8d.; and September, 9d. per gallon, which represents an average for the six months of 7½d. per gallon. Milk delivered to creameries at a greater distance than 100 miles by rail from London would be paid for at the same rate less the increased cost of railway transport to London. It was agreed that the revised prices should be retrospective to 1st April and that those farmers who had already entered into contracts should receive the benefits accruing under the above arrangement. The Minister understands that, in the case of certain distributors, contracts have been entered into to supply milk based on prices ruling previous to this agreed alteration, and he hopes that in such cases the holders of such contracts will agree to a revision in accordance with the altered terms to the producer. The price to the consumer of 5d. a quart, which had previously been announced for the three months of April, May and June, will not be raised during that period.