§ 27. Sir J. Mellorasked the Minister of Food whether he is now able to relax restrictions upon the customer's choice of milk retailer.
§ Mr. StracheyI have nothing to add at present to the reply given to the hon. Member for Tiverton (Mr. Amory) on the 28th January.
§ Sir J. MellorIs it not time that some decision was come to in this matter, since the Committee on milk distribution was appointed as long ago as October, 1946, and issued an interim report in May, 1947. Now that the right hon. Gentleman has received the final report, can he not come to a decision?
§ Mr. StracheyThe first step is to publish that final report, and that is to be done.
§ Sir J. MellorHow soon?
§ Lord John HopeWhat has happened to cause this evidently unexpected delay in a conclusion being arrived at? Is the Minister aware that the Parliamentary Secretary told me more than a year ago that something was about to be done?
§ Mr. StracheyThe report of the Committee covers a very much wider field than is suggested in the Question, as it embraces the whole matter of milk distribution. We have been awaiting that report, which makes recommendations in this regard, as hon. Members will see. It would be a pity if we had to make a change before the report is even published.
§ Sir J. MellorHow soon will it be published?
§ Mr. StracheyAs soon as it can be printed.