§ 36. Mr. LEONARDasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, seeing that the English Milk Marketing Board is paying to the Scottish Milk Marketing Board a subsidy of £182,000 a year for the purpose of keeping Scottish milk off the English market, he can state the basis on which this payment has been fixed; and whether any similar arrangement is proposed with regard to cream?
§ Mr. ELLIOTAs regards the first part of the question, no details of the various arrangements made between the two Boards have been published, and I am not in a position to give the information asked for. As regards the second part, I am not aware that any arrangements are proposed in the case of cream.
§ Sir PERCY HARRISIs it correct that English farmers are having money taken from them and handed over to Scotland to the extent of £182,000?
§ Mr. ELLIOTNo, Sir. No one is taking any money away from the English farmers. Any action taken is taken by them through their representatives.
§ Sir P. HARRISThe £182,000 must come from somebody, either from the farmers or the consumers.