HC Deb 10 March 1948 vol 448 cc1237-8
56. Colonel Wheatley

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that his Department has recently issued notices in two cases of change of ownership of milk retail businesses, automatically transferring persons registered with the former owners to the new proprietors with the exception that members of a co-operative society at the date of issue of the notice are given the option of having their registration transferred to a co-operative society; and why this discriminating treatment has been permitted.

64. Lieut.-Commander Clark Hutchison

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the indignation felt by the customers of the late Mr. John Anderson, Murrayfield Dairy, Edinburgh, at the automatic transfer of their registration for milk to the new proprietor of the business, a subsidiary company of a London-controlled combine, except that customers who are also members of a co-operative society are being given the option of having their registration transferred to this society; and why this degree of freedom of choice cannot be extended.

Mr. Strachey

When a private milk business is bought by another private trader any customer who is a member of a co-operative society trading in the area may transfer to his society; but to balance this, when a business is bought by a cooperative society, customers of the private business who are not members of the co-operative society may transfer to another private trader.

Colonel Wheatley

Is it the policy of the right hon. Gentleman's Department to issue notices which indicate that he favours one private enterprise against another and one type of customer against another?

Mr. Strachey

No, Sir. We do not agree that there is any favouring of the customer who prefers a private trader or of the customer who prefers a co-operative society.

Lieut.-Commander Hutchison

There is a strong feeling in the country about this lack of freedom to change milk retailers, and cannot something be done about it?

Mr. Strachey

That is another question.

Mr. Wilson Harris

With regard to Question No. 64, is it not the case that there are two milkmen delivering in that road, and the customer who wants to deal with one milkman is compelled to deal with the other and is prevented from dealing with the milkman with whom he wants to deal? Is that not being annoying for the sake of annoying?

Mr. Strachey

If it is a choice between the private retailer and the co-operative retailer, the transfer is allowed.