HC Deb 21 July 1938 vol 338 cc2422-4
69. Mr. Macquisten

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Milk Marketing Board last winter, while calling upon the private creamery manufacturers of butter and cheese to release large gallonages of milk for the liquid market to the extent of stopping all butter manufacture in some cases, were themselves in Cornwall still manufacturing butter, although there existed in that area a liquid milk rail-tanker despatch depot which could have handled and placed upon the London market the whole of this milk; and whether he will direct that in future the Milk Marketing Board shall not use their powers in a discriminating manner to further their own trading interests at the expense of those with whom they are in competition?

Mr. W. S. Morrison

I am aware that the Milk Marketing Board called upon creamery proprietors to divert supplies of milk to better markets in accordance with the terms of the milk contract. I am informed by the board that milk was also diverted for the same purpose from the board's factories to an extent, in most cases, greater than in the case of the other creameries. It is true that in Cornwall there is a liquid despatch depot and that the board were manufacturing butter in that county, but the liquid requirements of the London market were met from sources nearer at hand, and it was unnecessary to draw further supplies from Cornwall, involving producers in heavy transport charges. The information available does not support the suggestion that the Milk Marketing Board have used their powers in a discriminating manner, but I would point out that the machinery of Section 9 of the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1931, is available for persons who desire to complain about the operation of a marketing scheme.

Mr. T. Williams

Is there any good reason why producers of milk should not market it themselves if they want to?

Mr. Morrison

I see no good reason why the producers of milk should not market their produce to the best advantage.

Mr. Macquisten

But are they not being stopped by the Milk Marketing Board?

Mr. Morrison

That is not the general feeling amongst producers.

70. Sir Reginald Clarry

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Milk Marketing Board last year opened several new creameries in areas already adequately equipped with creamery manufacturing facilities and, in order to get these redundant creameries into operation, compulsorily allocated supplies to them from producers whose milk had been bought and marketed previously by the existing creameries in the areas in question, thereby seriously damaging the creamery proprietors concerned; and whether he will instruct the Milk Marketing Board to cease using their powers for the destruction of private enterprise in this way during the coming milk-buying period?

Mr. Morrison

I am informed by the Milk Marketing Board that it is not the case that new factories have been established in areas already adequately equipped with manufacturing facilities. In allocating supplies, the board are advised by a Joint Committee, consisting of representatives of the board and of the Central Milk Distributive Committee, and I understand that, in agreement with this committee, certain supplies were diverted from existing creameries to new factories belonging, not only to the board, but to other concerns as well. As to the last part of the question, I would ask my hon. Friend to take into account that the board are acting on behalf of the producers of the milk, and I may mention that the number of depots and factories owned otherwise than by the board has increased from 512 to 649 during the period of the scheme.