§ 51. Mr. Wootton-Daviesasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in the interests of equity and milk consumption, he will recommend to the Milk Marketing Board the fixing of a flat rate of haulage for the transport of milk to markets; and what objection there is to the adoption of such a flat rate in view of the complete official control of sources of supply and distribution?
§ Mr. MabaneThe responsibility for supplying milk to the point of first delivery rests with producers, and the Milk Marketing Board negotiates haulage rates on their behalf. It is for the Board to decide in what way haulage costs shall be charged to individual producers.
§ Mr. Wootton-DaviesIs there no supervision of these rail and transport charges?
§ Mr. MabaneThis is a matter, as I indicated in my answer, for the Milk Marketing Board, and the decision lies within their discretion. I understand they have examined this matter on one or two occasions in the past and have decided that action on the lines indicated by my hon. Friend would not be desirable.
§ 53. Mr. Higgsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the larger distributors of milk are receiving an additional margin of 1¼d. a gallon over and above that of the small distributor; and will he give consideration to making the margin uniform?
§ Mr. MabaneI would refer my hon. Friend to the replies which I gave on 2rst October, 1942, and 14th April, 1943, to 2296 the hon. and gallant Member for Ripon (Major York).
§ Mr. HiggsIs the hon. Gentleman aware that these replies were very unsatisfactory and did not give any explanation at all as to why the amount paid should increase as the amount distributed increased?
§ Mr. MabaneI am sure my hon. Friend has read the answers. They are extremely long. I think they give a full explanation of the policy on which this particular practice is based.