§ 53. Captain Yorkasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will consider the introduction of a sliding scale of payments to firms wholesaling milk only, so that the wholesale margin will conform more to that in force prior to 30th September, 1942?
§ Mr. MabaneNo, Sir. The scheme of margins in force prior to 30th September last would be quite unsuited to existing conditions when wholesalers are paid in respect of the total volume of milk they handle.
§ 63. Mr. Barnesasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that in the early part of November, when the North Western and North Midlands areas were seriously short of milk to fulfil priority demands and the minimum entitlement of ordinary consumers, ample supplies were readily available in West Wales, and why it was that the Milk Movement's Branch of the Ministry was unwilling to make the necessary arrangements to transfer these supplies?
§ Mr. MabaneI am aware of the circumstances to which my hon. Friend refers, but if the milk in question had been distributed as my hon. Friend suggests, a deficiency would have been caused in the area to which it was transferred.
§ Mr. BarnesIs the hon. Gentleman aware that after the representations movement of milk did take place to this area? Further, does he not recognise that a good deal of the trouble is aggravated by public statements from the Ministry of Food to the effect that 2½ pints of milk are available to consumers when the organisation of supplies does not make that possible?
§ Mr. MabaneI am aware of the circumstances. The milk was transferred to the London Co-operative Society—
§ Mr. BarnesNo, it was not.
§ Mr. Mabane—instead of to the North-West area. Had that transfer not taken place, I am afraid there would have been a shortage in the London area, where distribution as between various distributors would have been most uneven.
§ Mr. Rhys DaviesIs the hon. Gentleman aware that although it was broadcast that people were entitled to two pints of milk, in the Wigan area there is not sufficient to give even one pint of milk?
§ Mr. MabaneIt is not a ration; it is an allowance. People are allowed two pints a week. They may not always get it; sometimes they may get more, but it is not to be regarded as a ration in the same way that the tea ration is a specific one.