§ 5. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Food, in view of a threatened shortage of milk, what decisions he has come to following the discussions between his Department and the dairymen on meet ing difficulties of distribution.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThere is always the possibility of some shortage of milk in the autumn but, on present estimates, I do not expect that it would be more than temporary. The discussions which have taken place will be of assistance to my Department in making arrangements to ensure that supplies are distributed as evenly as possible.
§ Mr. DoddsIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that a spokesman for the National Dairymen's Association said recently that there is likely to be a severe shortage? Is that an overstatement? And if there is to be a shortage, can we take it that this year steps have already been taken so that there will not be the trouble we had, for instance, last year?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeIt is difficult for me, or anyone else for that matter, to say what the degree of shortage will be, but. 753 from all the advice I can get, I do not think the shortage will be anything of a serious nature. One cannot possibly say what the shortage will be, but this sort of thing does happen in the autumn and occurred, not only last year, but before the war.
§ Mr. DoddsBut if there is a shortage, whether it is serious or not, are steps being taken to see that supplies are distributed adequately?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeYes, definitely. Steps are taken to see that the supplies are distributed fairly. That has always been in mind, because difficulties of this kind do occur.
§ Mr. ManuelCan the Minister inform the House what implementation there is in connection with the shortage so far as the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease and the slaughter policy in Scotland is concerned?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI am not clear that I follow the hon. Gentleman's question.
§ Dr. StrossWill the Minister bear in mind the very close association between liquid milk and cheese, for the one is made from the other, a quart of milk being equivalent to 4 oz. of cheese; and that if we cannot have much of the latter, will something specific be done to see that liquid milk is in good supply?
§ 10. Dr. Broughtonasked the Minister of Food what action he is taking to implement the provisions contained in the Milk (Special Designations) Act, 1949, to protect the public against bovine tuberculosis and other milk-borne diseases.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThe Milk (Special Designations) Act, 1949, is operative in Scotland. In England and Wales the appropriate statute is the Food and Drugs (Milk, Dairies and Artificial Cream) Act, 1950. Under these two Acts Orders have been made specifying six of the largest urban areas. Fourteen other major areas have already been surveyed for specification and 12 further areas are now being surveyed.
§ Dr. BroughtonIs the Minister aware that when the Bill was discussed in Parliament it was understood that, because of the shortage of bottling plant, the Act could not be brought fully into operation before 1st October, 1954? Might I ask 754 whether the necessary bottling plant is being manufactured at a rate which will ensure the Act being fully operative on the appointed day?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI should like to look into that point further but, as far as I am informed, the necessary plant is being manufactured.
§ 30. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Minister of Food to what extent adequate supplies of fresh milk will be available during the winter months of this year.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeSupplies of fresh milk should be sufficient to meet the demand for liquid consumption throughout the winter months, leaving a balance for manufacturing purposes.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIn view of the grave doubts expressed by responsible persons in the milk trade about winter supplies of milk, will the Minister make it clear that he is prepared to ration milk supplies this winter if it becomes necessary?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI hope my answer will ease the mind of the hon. and gallant Gentleman.
§ 40. Mr. F. Willeyasked the Minister of Food what factors have contributed to the current fall in the consumption of fresh milk.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeLiquid milk consumption in the four weeks ended 31st May was 120.4 million gallons, less than 2 per cent. below consumption in the same period last year. This change is too insignificant to be attriutable to any particular factors.
§ Mr. WilleyIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the latest published figures show a fall of about one million gallons in the consumption of full price fresh milk, and that this is rather a disturbing matter?
§ 43. Mr. W. T. Williamsasked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the representations made to him by the trade expressing concern about the decline in milk consumption by people in the lower income groups, he will review his intention further to increase the retail price of milk.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI have received no such representations from the milk distributive trade.
§ Mr. WilliamsIs not the Minister aware that representations have at least been sent to Lord Woolton who promised that the matter would be looked into? Is this another example of co-ordination?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI do not know about that; I answered the Question on the Paper. I do not know about the communications, but that does not alter the answer that there is no significant change.