14. Mr. Vaneasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what communications he has had with the Milk Marketing Board about introducing a system of payment for milk according to quality in place of the present basis.
Mr. AmoryNone, Sir. The Milk Marketing Board is responsible for pay- 1434 ments to producers, and a special committee of the Board has been set up to consider the problem.
Mr. VaneWill my right hon. Friend do what he can to encourage the payment for milk on a quality basis? Surely it is quality and not quantity which is now important in milk production. I believe that the Scottish Board has some such plan in operation and has found that it works satisfactorily. What the Scottish Board can do surely we can do better?
Mr. AmoryI should certainly not wish to dissent from the last part of the question, but I am sure my hon. Friend will agree that the whole matter is very complicated, particularly when so much of our market is for milk in liquid form. I shall look forward very much to the report which the committee of the Board no doubt will be making in due course.