§ 32 Mr. KIRKWOODasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that seven milk retailers in Glasgow have been refused supplies and threatened with economic boycott by the Scottish Milk Marketing Board because they reduced prices to consumers; will he state under which statutory authority they are doing so; and what action he intends to take to protect these retailers against intimidation by the Milk Board?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Sir Godfrey Collins)As regards the first part of the question I understand that supplies to a few distributors have been discontinued because of their action in selling milk at prices less than those specified in the contract which the distributors concerned have entered into with the Scottish Milk Marketing Board. Supplies have also been cut off in some cases because of the failure of the distributors to meet the board's accounts when they became due. As regards the second part the authority for discontinuing supplies is contained in the contract. As regards the last part I have no power to intervene between the contracting parties.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIf I give the right hon. Gentleman information to prove that these retailers were supplying milk at the current rate before the Marketing Board 922 come into operation, will he see that they are still allowed these powers; otherwise, some poor folk are not going to get milk?
§ Sir G. COLLINSI am afraid that I have no power. These distributors entered into a contract with the board to supply milk at a certain price. They have broken the terms of the contract, and, in accordance with the terms of the contract, the supplies have been cut off.