§ 37. Mr. DREWEasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the price of milk received by the majority of producers in the Far Western region during the month of May amounted to 5½d. per gallon; and whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce a levy subsidy on imported dairy products to ensure that the producers of milk shall get a fair price for their product?
§ 38. Brigadier - General CLIFTON BROWNasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the increasing amounts of inter-regional compensation 19 levy that milk producers are having to pay into the pool, he will take steps to impose a levy on imported manufactured milk products to enable the board to pay a fair price to the producers of liquid milk in this country?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI am aware that the net receipt per gallon for May of the non-accredited long distance depot suppliers in the Far Western region was a little over 5½d. I am also fully alive to the position arising from the present prices of milk for manufacture. I am sending my hon. Friend and my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the reply I gave on 19th May to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham (Sir R. Gower) in which I said that a general indication of the policy of the Government in regard to imports of milk products was given in a statement made on 25th July last. The present position of the home milk industry in relation to imports of milk products is safeguarded until October, 1937, by the Milk Act, 1934, and the Milk (Extension of Temporary Provisions) Act, 1936, which provide, inter alia, for Exchequer advances to improve the price of milk used for manufacture. The dairy produce situation will be reviewed and the Government's long-term policy determined before that date.
Brigadier-General BROWNIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the levy of £1 an acre on a 400 acre farm is £400 a year, and that unless something is done soon we cannot go on producing milk in these circumstances?
§ Mr. ELLIOTThese are figures given from non-accredited producers. It must be remembered that they include long distance haulage charges, a charge in this case of nearly 3d. for transport. It would not be fair to compare these with ordinary dairy figures.
§ Mr. PALINGAs the working classes drink far less milk than is good for them, on account of their poverty, would it not be better for the Government to get it for them in another way instead of taxing foreign milk?
§ Mr. ELLIOTIt is in order to get the milk to consumers in London and elsewhere that these high transport charges are incurred, of which the producers complain.