§ 51. Mr. PETHERICKasked the Minister of Agriculture the average cost of milk retail, for liquid consumption, in the month of June in the years 1929, 1933, 1935 and 1936?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMParticulars obtained by the Ministry of Labour, for 1761 the purpose of calculating changes in the cost of living, show that average retail prices of milk in the United Kingdom on 1st June were, in 1929, 5¾d. per quart; in 1933, 5½d. per quart; in 1935 and in 1936, 6d. per quart.
§ Mr. PETHERICKIs my hon. Friend entirely satisfied that, in view of the un-remunerative price the farmers are at present obtaining, the relation between retail and wholesale prices is justified?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMThat is a much larger question, and I cannot discuss it at the moment.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that these figures indicate that the Milk Marketing Scheme so far has been a failure, seeing that the price for liquid milk is higher a few years after the operation of the Milk Marketing Scheme than it was previously?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMI do not think for a moment that that conclusion is justified.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSDoes the hon. Gentleman then suggest that the higher the price of liquid milk, the greater the success of the scheme?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMI make no such suggestion.
§ Brigadier-General CLIFTON BROWNIs my hon. Friend aware that although the retail price is higher, the producer is getting a lower price?