§ 42. Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to any shortage of milk in the Wold villages of Lincoln-shire; and, if so, whether he will draw the attention of the Milk Marketing Board to this shortage?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI was not aware of any shortage of milk in Lincolnshire, but if my hon. and gallant Friend will send me particulars of any cases of which he has knowledge, I will certainly draw the attention of the Milk Marketing Board to the matter.
§ 43. Mr. WHITEasked the Minister of Agriculture whether any estimate has been made of the additional cost of milk to voluntary and other hospitals since the Milk Marketing Board was instituted; and whether the Board and/or the Government propose to take any action to relieve the hospitals of this additional burden?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 2nd May to the hon. Member for St. Rollox (Mr. Leonard) and my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton (Sir J. Haslam), to which at the moment I have nothing to add.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSWill the right hon. Gentleman make representations to the Milk Marketing Board on the question of granting hospitals and such institutions treatment similar to that received by ice-cream vendors?
§ Mr. ELLIOTIt is difficult to suggest that a certain class of individuals should bear the loss on the supply to hospitals unless it is suggested to the people who supply hospitals.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the consumers and the producers, as the case may be, are really bearing a large loss on milk sold to ice-cream vendors?
§ 46. Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that milk in the Yorkshire area, for which the producer gets 7d. per gallon, is retailed at 2s. per gallon; and whether he will take steps to see that such disparity of prices is not continued?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI am sending the hon. Member a copy of the reply I gave on 18th June to a similar question asked by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Barkston Ash (Colonel Ropner).