§ 62. Mr. R. J. Russellasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food under what conditions milk contracts can be broken and the supplies diverted to another purchaser; and whether these conditions were strictly adhered to when certain contracts were taken from a private creamery at Tattenhall, Cheshire, and given to a co-operative society by way of the Co-operative Wholesale Society?
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (Major Lloyd George)Under the Milk Marketing Board (Modification of Functions) Order, 1940, contracts entered into between the Board, producers and purchasers may be cancelled unilaterally by the Board at the direction of the Minister for the purpose of improving the supply position and affecting economies in transport. It is understood that four producers who were supplying a Tattenhall creamery terminated their agreements with their buyers on 30th September in accordance with the terms of their contracts and resold their milk to a retail co-operative society. Milk contracts may, at present, only be transferred from one buyer to another on the instructions or with the consent of the Ministry of Food. Such 304 transfers are decided upon for the purpose of securing a better distribution of supplies and of effecting economies in transport.