§ 33. Brigadier-General CLIFTON BROWNasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware, that the Milk and Dairies Order, 1926, is causing many small milk producers in country villages expense which they cannot afford, and that they must close down businesses which in some eases they have carried on without any complaint from sanitary authority for 30 years; and whether he will empower the local authorities in such cases to pay some compensation or grant an extension of time in which they must comply with the new Orders?
§ Sir K. WOODMy right hon. Friend has not heard of any such complaints, and he thinks that the producers to whom my hon. and gallant Friend refers must be under some misapprehension as to the terms of the Order. Article 1 of the Order allows a considerable period of time to elapse before any of the provisions which involve any financial outlay become operative.
Brigadier-General BROWNIs the hon. Member aware that the Ministry have recently sent to local authorities at Hereford, in answer to their question, a letter stating that cow keepers with one or two cows who provide butter and milk for the village, need not come under this Order? Will he look into the matter and disseminate that information and give some instruction to local authorities, so that they will not operate these regulations so harshly as at present on small men in country villages?
§ Sir K. WOODI will certainly look into the case mentioned by my hon. and gallant Friend.
§ Mr. MARCHIs it not a fact that producers and distributors had 12 months' notice before this Act came into operation?
Viscountess ASTORIs it not a fact that the better milk we have, the greater the demand will be, and that this Act will in the end help the farmers themselves?
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe cannot have a Debate on agriculture on this question.