§ 12. Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the Milk and Dairy Order is inflicting hardship on small farmers,, especially in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, where good milk and good butter are made, although the byres do not conform to the Regulations; and whether he will have the Order suspended?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Major Elliot)My right hon. Friend assumes that this question refers to the bylaws made by individual district committees under Section 8 of the Milk and Dairies (Scotland) Act, 1914, for the regulation of byres and cowsheds in their areas. The Scottish Board of Health have confirmed such bylaws in respect of certain districts in the Highlands and Islands but they have no evidence that the operation of the bylaws in these areas is inflicting hardship on small farmers.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENWould it be too much to ask the hon. and gallant Gentleman to point out to these local authorities that it is the dairy-maids who make the butter and cheese and not the byres; and to take into consideration the fact that if these people have to build new byres and have not the money to do it they are ruined?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis is not the time for speeches.