CONSUMERS' COMPLAINTS. (Hansard, 31 January 1934)

HC Deb 31 January 1934 vol 285 cc348-9 348

§ 30. Mr. T. SMITH (for Mr. T. WILLIAMS)
asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the committee appointed to safeguard the consumers' interests have received any complaints; and, if so, will he state their nature?

§ Mr. ELLIOT
The Consumers' Committee for England has received 20 complaints, all of which dealt with the retail price of milk. Of these, 15 were from private persons, three from urban district councils, one was from a local trade and labour council, and one was a petition signed by private persons. Four of the complaints also contained references to the price of bacon and, together with a further complaint on the same subject from an association of consumers, were accordingly referred to the Consumers' Council for Great Britain. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has sent to the Consumers' Committee for Scotland a complaint he has received relating to the Scottish Milk Marketing Scheme.

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§ Mr. SMITH
Can the right hon. Gentleman say when we are likely to have reports with regard to those complaints?

§ Mr. ELLIOT
I am afraid that I cannot say without notice.

§ Mr. BUCHANAN
May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if, in connection with complaints about the price of milk in Scotland, and in view of the fact that prices affect very poor people, he will cause urgent inquiries to be made?

§ Mr. ELLIOT
No, Sir. The Scottish complaint is from an association representing hotel and restaurant proprietors who claim that under the Scottish Milk Marketing Scheme they should be regarded as manufacturers of milk.

§ Mr. BUCHANAN
Is the right hon. Gentleman, being a Scottish Member himself, aware that there is considerable complaint concerning the poorer classes of the community who can only afford to purchase half-a-pint of milk at a time and have, therefore, to pay a proportionately higher rate than those who can afford to purchase a larger quantity; and will he look into the position and see that no one is penalised by reason of having, because of poverty, to buy milk in small quantities?

§ Mr. ELLIOT
My hon. Friend will realise that there is adequate machinery for dealing with those complaints, and it only remains for consumers to operate it in Scotland as they are doing in the case of England.

§ Information regarding the number and percentage of school meals provided free and for payment during the calendar year 1933 is given in Table I below. Particulars of the number of children fed can only be given for the last financial year or for a single month. As the returns for the financial year 1932–33 are now rather out of date, the latest available monthly figures, i.e., for December, 1933, are given in Table II.

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TABLE I. 128 words