HC Deb 30 July 1935 vol 304 cc2467-8
33. Mr. MACQUISTEN

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the vote taken at the inception of the milk boards was taken according to the number of milk producers or according to the number of their cows?

The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Elliot)

The number of registered producers voting, and the quantity of milk they were capable of producing (which was represented by the number of milch cows in the possession of each voter on a stated date), were both taken into account in determining the results of the initial polls on the Milk Marketing Schemes. This was in pursuance of Section 3 (2) of the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1931, which provides that a scheme lapses unless on the initial poll there have voted in favour of the scheme not less than two-thirds of the total number of registered producers voting, and also registered producers who are capable of producing not less than two-thirds of the quantity of the regulated product which all the registered producers voting on the poll are capable of producing. The votes in favour of the English Milk Marketing Scheme on the initial poll were 96.4 per cent. on the basis of numbers voting, and 96.6 per cent. on the basis of capacity. The corresponding figures were in the ease of the Scottish Milk Marketing Scheme 77 per cent. and 78 per cent.; the Aberdeen Scheme 79 per cent. and 87 per cent., and the North of Scotland Scheme 72 per cent. and 75.8 per cent.

Mr. MACQUISTEN

Is it the case that, in the new poll that is to be taken, voters are to vote in accordance with the number of their cows, as has been stated in the Press?

Mr. ELLIOT

No, Sir. As in the case of the initial poll, both the numbers voting and the quantity of the product will be taken into account in computing the poll.

Mr. MACQUISTEN

When a man has a few cows, which may represent his all, is not this question just as important for him as for the man with a number of cows? Should there not be one man one vote?

Mr. ELLIOT

No doubt it is important to the small man, but it is also vitally important that we should know the quantity of milk which is likely to be on the market, since that is what finally determines the price of the milk, and not the number of persons producing it.