HC Deb 18 June 1951 vol 489 cc17-8
24. Mr. Dye

asked the Minister of Food what action he proposes to take to ensure that certain villages and schools in Norfolk which have recently been short of milk will be adequately supplied.

Mr. Webb

The delivery of milk to the two villages which my hon. Friend no doubt has in mind has already been resumed. My officers are now helping the local education authority to secure an early resumption of deliveries to a number of small isolated schools in the area whose former distributor has recently stopped supplies. Deliveries are starting again today to 12 of these schools. I will inform my hon. Friend when arrangements for delivery to the remaining eight schools have been completed.

Mr. Dye

Will the officers of the Department stay there until this problem has been solved?

Mr. Webb

We are doing our best to put it right. I think that the evidence which I have given should reassure my hon. Friend that I am not without sympathy towards his request.

Mr. Baldwin

Is the Minister aware that this complaint is not confined to Norfolk but is general throughout the country, and is because the margin allowed to dealers is not sufficient to enable them to deliver to isolated consumers?

Mr. Webb

I do not agree that it is general. There are places where it is a problem, and if I am given evidence of these local problems I shall be glad to look into it.