Milk Consumption (Hansard, 18 February 1953)

29. Mr. I. O. Thomas
asked the Minister of Food the national total of milk consumption for each year from 1939 to 1952; how far there has been substantial reduction in consumption of milk during 1952 as compared with 1950 and 1951; and what he considers to be the reason for such reduction.

§ Major Lloyd George
As the reply contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL 1230 REPORT. There was no substantial reduction in the national consumption of mill during 1952 as compared with 1950 am 1951. The decline was less than 1 per cent. and 1.7 per cent. respectively am is too small to be attributed to any particular reason.

Mr. Thomas
Does the figure of 1 per cent. relate to hundreds of thousands or to millions of gallons?

§ Major Lloyd George
When the hon. Gentleman looks at the figures he will see that the position really is as I have said, that the reduction is too small to be attributed to any particular reason.

Mr. Thomas
The right hon. and gallant Gentleman has not replied to my question. I presume he has the figures in front of him. To what quantity of milk does the percentage which he has quoted relate? Does the 1 per cent. involve hundreds of thousands of gallons or millions of gallons?

§ Major Lloyd George
I believe it to be about 11 million gallons.

§ Mr. Willey
Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman agree that the consumption of milk in 1952 fell for the first time for a very long period and that the amount consumed was not only less than in 1951 but also less than in the previous year? Is not this a very serious reversal of the trend of milk consumption in this country?

§ Major Lloyd George
I can only repeat what I have said, that the trend is so small at the moment that it cannot really be attributed to anything in particular.
Following is the information:

LIQUID CONSUMPTION OF MILK IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

CALENDAR YEARS 1939 TO 1952

Million gallons

1939 … … … 863.3

1940 … … … 937.0

1941 … … … 1063.9

1942 … … … 1114.3

1943 … … … 1169.0

1944 … … … 1205.1

1945 … … … 1242.8

1946 … … … 1303.9

1947 … … … 1305.5

1948 … … … 1417.1

1949 … … … 1513.8

1950 … … … 1557.2

1951 … … … 1572.9

1952 … … … 1546.1

LIQUID CONSUMPTION OF MILK IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
CALENDAR YEARS 1939 TO 1952
Million gallons
1939	…	…	…	863.3
1940	…	…	…	937.0
1941	…	…	…	1063.9
1942	…	…	…	1114.3
1943	…	…	…	1169.0
1944	…	…	…	1205.1
1945	…	…	…	1242.8
1946	…	…	…	1303.9
1947	…	…	…	1305.5
1948	…	…	…	1417.1
1949	…	…	…	1513.8
1950	…	…	…	1557.2
1951	…	…	…	1572.9
1952	…	…	…	1546.1