§ 5. Mr. A. SOMERVILLE (for Mr. LAMB)asked the President of the Board of Trade by what date all farmers who consigned milk to the London emergency milk pool will have received payment of their accounts; what action is being taken in respect to milk accepted for consignment by rail to London, but which is alleged not to have been received by the pool; whether the accounts of the pool are being audited by a Government auditor and whether a Report on the operations of the pool committee, including a detailed statement of the various sources of supply that were stopped, will be published for the information of the producers concerned?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe accounts of farmers for milk consigned to London during the recent emergency are in process of settlement by the Milk Pool Committee, and a considerable number have already been paid. Settlement is delayed in some cases by the failure of the producers to render their accounts in sufficient detail. In cases where doubt has arisen as to the receipt. 248 of consignments of milk in London, producers are being requested to forward to the accountants to the pool copies of the original railway waybills. A firm of chartered accountants has been appointed to audit the accounts, and the Board of Trade are prepared to accept the certificate of this firm. I will consider whether a report would usefully be issued when all accounts have been settled and transactions have been liquidated.
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERIs the Board of Trade insisting that the pool price for the milk should be paid by all retailers, whether they obtained their supplies from the pool or not?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI should like notice of that question.