§ 60. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Food if he will state the cost per gallon landed in England of the milk being flown from Northern Ireland.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe cost this month is 4s. 5¼d. per gallon.
§ Mr. HurdIs the hon. Lady aware that that is double the price per gallon being paid to farmers in the North-West Region of England where this milk is being landed? It seems a very extravagant way of doing this. Will the hon. Lady look at it again and see whether she cannot get the milk from Ireland at a considerably lower cost?
§ Dr. SummerskillWe have examined the alternatives. It would require two ships to bring 35,000 gallons to this country every day, which would cost just as much as the air passage.
§ Sir R. RossIs the hon. Lady aware that there are many too few ships in any event and could she bring some pressure to bear to increase the number of ships and have this milk sent by ship rather than by air?
§ Dr. SummerskillThat is a Question for another Department.
63. Colonel Wheatleyasked the Minister of Food if, when reviewing the milk situation for the coming winter, he will bear in mind the special needs of persons of 70 years and over.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe special needs of old people have repeatedly been considered with very great care. Unfortunately, supplies are insufficient for us to be able to add persons of 70 years and over to the priority classes for milk.
Colonel WheatleyIs the hon. Lady aware that there is great feeling throughout the country that old people, especially those living alone, cannot get on with less than three pints of milk a week?
§ Dr. SummerskillWhile I am very sympathetic towards the old people, I must remind the hon. Member that there are over 3,000,000 people in this country of 70 or over and if we increased their allocation it would be necessary to decrease the allocation to non-priority consumers. which we do not think is desirable.