§ 81. Mr WALTER SMITHasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now in a position to report on the subject of the appointment of a committee of inquiry to investigate the question of the great disparity in the price paid to farmers for milk and the cost to the consumer, and to suggest means by which the interests of the consumer can be adequately safeguarded?
Sir A. BOSCAWENI have considered the question of the appointment of a committee dealing with the supply and distribution of milk, but after consultation with the various interests concerned I do not think that the appointment of such a committee would be likely to lead to useful results. I may remind the hon Member that during recent years several committees dealing with different questions relating to milk have been appointed, and their reports contain a considerable amount of information on different aspects of the matter. The particular point mentioned in the hon. Member's question is a matter of great complexity and could not be investigated without giving compulsory powers to the body appointed for the purpose, requiring the production of the books of private firms.