§ 44. Sir ROBERT HAMILTONasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can explain why the summer price of 2s. charged to consumers for milk in Scotland, where there is a much larger surplus of milk than in England, should be higher than the summer price. in many parts of England; and what steps have been taken this summer by the consumers' committee to secure a reduction of the price?
§ Sir G. COLLINSThe summer price of. 2s. per gallon for milk in Scotland was found by the Committee of Investigation for Scotland to be a reasonable charge pending official inquiry into costs of production and distribution. As regards the last part of the question I have received a report from the Consumers' Committee expressing their views on the desirability of differentiating between winter and summer retail prices. The report is being published and copies of it will be supplied to the Milk Reorganisation Commission for Great Britain for their consideration.
§ 47. Sir R. HAMILTONasked the. Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can state the price which the cheese factories in Scotland pay at present for milk for manufacturing purposes; and. what price per gallon of milk was received by farmer cheese makers in the. Southwest of Scotland and the level producers in the East of Scotland, respectively, in the years1934 and 1935?
§ Sir G. COLLINSThe price charged by the Scottish Milk Marketing Board for milk for the manufacture of cheese in factories was 3.025d. per gallon during the month of April. The average of the monthly prices paid to registered producers (including cheese makers) over the calendar year 1934 and over the four months January to April, 1935, was10.96d. and 11.62d. per gallon respectively. I am sending to the hon. Member a statement giving further detailed information on the points raised in his question.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSCan the right hon. Gentleman say exactly what steps are being taken in Scotland to increase the sale of liquid milk?
§ Sir G. COLLINSThe Board have a very extensive publicity scheme.
§ 49. Mr. LEONARDasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will expedite a decision on the part of the committee investigating the milk charges demanded from public institutions?
§ Sir G. COLLINSI have considered the report, and am grateful to the committee for the care with which they have sifted the evidence and arguments placed before them. It appears to me, however, that any proposal requiring a marketing board to give special terms to selected classes of consumers raises wide issues of policy, and cannot well be considered merely as a matter of amendment of an existing marketing scheme. The committee's views will be carefully examined in connection with the formulation of a policy for the milk industry following upon the temporary measures brought into operation under the Milk Act, 1934. In the meantime it is not practicable to require the Scottish Milk Marketing Board to give effect to the committee's suggestions.
§ Mr. LEONARDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the hospitals in Scot land during last year did not know what charges were being made for milk and that they are now entering into the second year's contracts in total ignorance of what they have to pay, and is the right hon. Gentleman also aware that this may possibly react on the use of grade A, tuberculin tested, milk, which may be eliminated as a precautionary measure by some hospitals?
§ Sir G. COLLINSI hope that the latter suggestion will not develop. The matter raises large issues of policy, and it has been referred to the Milk Reorganisation Committee, who are presently investigating this and other matters.
§ Mr. LEONARDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the report to which he has referred, and which I presume is in his possession, stated that in so far as these institutions are not receiving special treatment it maybe said that the action of the Board is not in the public interest? 1128 Is the right hon. Gentleman going to countenance something that is not in the public interest? If.a reduction in charges is made, can he ensure that the reduction will be retrospective?
§ Sir G. COLLINSPreference cannot be given to one institution alone. The Consumers' Committee undoubtedly re commended that that step should betaken, but, unfortunately or fortunately, the Milk Marketing Board have no power to single out certain classes of institutions for preferential treatment at the moment.
§ Mr. PALINGIs it not just as necessary to supply cheap milk to public institutions as to ice cream vendors?
§ Sir G. COLLINSThe hon. Member must know that the Government have found large sums of money for supplying cheap milk for children in schools.