§ 14. Captain PETER MACDONALDasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the hardship to producers of small quantities of milk resulting from the present scale of levies charged by the Milk Marketing Board; and, whether, in view of the narrow margin upon which such producers operate, he can state whether any steps are contemplated to improve their position?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Elliot)I do not think that the provisions of the Milk Marketing Scheme discriminate against producers of small quantities of milk. Producer-retailers, with not more than four cows, have the alternative of contributing either at the appropriate rate per gallon of milk sold by retail, or on the basis of ten shillings per cow per annum, whichever is more favourable to them. Producers with not more than four cows who sell only by wholesale are exempt from all the provisions of the scheme. Any representations which producers may wish to make on practical difficulties experienced by them can, I think, best be made to the Milk Marketing Board, who are the representatives of the producers, or to the Milk Reorganisation Commission for Great Britain who will no doubt give careful consideration to the position of 13 small producers of milk in formulating any recommendations for the improvement of organised milk marketing.
§ Captain MACDONALDIs my right hon. Friend aware that the levy charged now to support this business is so onerous that many of the producers have been forced out of business altogether?
§ Mr. ELLIOTThe best place where they can make representations is to the producers' representatives on the Milk Board.