38. Mr. Rostron Duckworthasked the Minister of Agriculture to what extent the production of British cheese has increased or decreased since the inception of the milk marketing scheme; and whether, in view of the large quantity of cheese which is still imported into this country, special attention can be given to this matter in the near future?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonAs the reply to the first part of the question is in the form of a table, with my hon. Friend's permission I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement of 842 the Government's proposals affecting the milk industry contained in the White Paper of July last, as amplified by the reply I gave to a question put on 7th December, 1937, by my hon. and gallant Friend, the Member for Maldon (Sir E. Ruggles-Brise).
§ Following is the table:
§ Quantities of milk disposed of under the English Milk Marketing Scheme for manufacture into cheese in factories and on farms.
| Period. | Factory cheese. | Farm cheese. |
| '000 gallons. | '000 gallons. | |
| Oct., 1933—Mar., 1934 (6 months). | 19,181 | * |
| Apr., 1934—Sept., 1934 (6 months). | 42,455 | 18,846 |
| Total 1933–34 | 61,636 | * |
| Oct., 1934—Mar., 1935 (6 months). | 34,469 | 2,473 |
| Apr., 1935—Sept., 1935 (6 months). | 58,162 | 11,532 |
| Total 1934–35 | 92,630 | 14,005 |
| Oct., 1935—Mar., 1936 (6 months). | 33,194 | 3,650 |
| Apr., 1936—Sept., 1936 (6 months). | 56,604 | 14,066 |
| Total 1935–36 | 89,798 | 17,716 |
| Oct., 1936—Mar., 1937 (6 months). | 22,590 | 4,208 |
| Apr., 1937—Sept., 1937 (6 months). | 36,740 | 15,415 |
| Total 1936–37 | 59,330 | 19,623 |
| Oct., 1937—Mar., 1938 (6 months). | 13,568 | 5,759 |
| *No figures available. |