§ 13. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the amount of milk produced in the first three months of this year compared with the same period in 1955 and 1954 and the quantities consumed as liquid milk.
Mr. AmorySales off the farm in England and Wales for the first three months of 1954, 1955 and 1956 were 408 million gallons, 391 million gallons and 424 million gallons, respectively. During the same periods sales for liquid consumption were 336 million gallons, 335 million gallons and 340 million gallons. If allowance be made for the extra day in February, 1956, the comparative figures for production and consumption in the first three months of 1956 are about 420 million gallons and about 336 million gallons, respectively.
§ Mr. HurdCan my right hon. Friend say whether he thinks that the pace of increased production shown in these three months is more than keeping up with the increased consumption, which must be a serious matter for the Milk Marketing Board as well as for himself?
Mr. AmoryYes, Sir, production in the first three months of this year has increased many times more than consumption, and the quantity of milk now becoming available week by week is, I know, affording a good deal of anxiety to the Milk Marketing Board.
§ Mr. WilleyWith regard to consumption, would the right hon. Gentleman agree that the increase in retail price is likely to depress consumption?
Mr. AmoryI think we must wait and see what will be the effect of that. In the past, increases in price have had the temporary effect of reducing consumption, but consumption has largely recovered again in the course of the succeeding two or three months.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsIf, as the Minister fears, there will be a surplus of liquid milk, what proposals can he make, as Minister of Food, to enable the people who can well afford to do so to buy milk in order to prevent it becoming surplus?
Air Commodore HarveyWill my right hon. Friend arrange for the Milk Marketing Board, if it can be done, to give added incentives for production in July, August and September, when there is usually a shortage of milk?
Mr. AmoryI know that this point is very much in the minds of those running the Milk Marketing Board.
§ Mr. John MacLeodCan my right hon. Friend say what is being done to process more of the surplus milk?
Mr. AmoryAll surplus milk is made available to the processors, but the capacity for processing is limited.
§ 14. Mr. Hamiltonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the total average monthly consumption of fresh milk in each year from 1951 to 1955, inclusive; the average monthly consumption of full-price fresh milk in each of those years; and what steps are being taken to arrest the decline.
Mr. AmoryAs the reply contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. HamiltonThat hardly answers the latter part of my Question. Will the right hon. Gentleman confirm the fact that between 1951 and 1955 the average monthly consumption was down by 4 million gallons, and how does the Minister relate that decreased consumption—or does he relate it at all—to the increase in retail prices?
Mr. AmoryThe hon. Gentleman knows the answer already, because he has quoted the right figure. The reduction in consumption is due to a variety of causes, amongst them the wider variety of alternative foodstuffs and drinks now available. In reply to the last part of the supplementary question, as we are to have a debate this afternoon it is only right to give the hon. Gentleman the information now. The milk marketing boards, through the National Milk Publicity Council, are taking vigorous steps to encourage sales of milk, and the Government are supporting that Council.
§ Mr. HamiltonDoes the Chancellor of the Exchequer realise the importance of an increased consumption of milk, and is he playing his part in reducing or abolishing the subsidy?
§ Following is the information
| UNITED KINGDOM | ||
| — | Average Monthly Consumption of Fresh Milk | Average Monthly Consumption of Full Price Fresh Milk |
| Million Gallons | Million Gallons | |
| 1951 | 130.57 | 111.08 |
| 1952 | 128.76 | 109.65 |
| 1953 | 126.53 | 107.91 |
| 1954 | 126.29 | 107.78 |
| 1955 | 126.36 | 107.61 |
| The Milk Marketing Boards are responsible for milk marketing policy and in collaboration with the dairy trade they are taking all practicable steps to encourage sales. Recent figures show that the decline in liquid sales has been arrested. |
§ 15. Mr. Hamiltonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to encourage the consumption of fresh milk by retirement pensioners.
Mr. AmoryThe responsibility for selling milk rests with the milk marketing boards and the dairy trade. In the course of its publicity campaign the National Milk Publicity Council has, on a number of occasions, emphasised the desirability of milk in the diet of elderly persons. The National Food Survey figures indicate that old-age pensioners are on average drinking as much milk in the home as other households.
§ Mr. HamiltonCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether those figures are really up to date, and has any estimate been made by the Government of the effect upon the consumption of milk by old-age pensioners consequent on the anticipated increase in retail prices? Further, would the Minister consider introducing a scheme whereby old-age pensioners obtain milk at reduced prices as young children get it?
Mr. AmoryAs regards the first part of the supplementary question, the figures are not really up to date but they cover the period to the end of 1954. As regards the second part of that question, I have said already that I cannot foretell the effect of the increase in the price of milk which is to take place on 1st July. As regards the third part of that question, our view is that it is better to decide on cash benefits for old-age pensioners at a correct 10 level rather than concessions in kind such as the hon. Gentleman has suggested.
§ Mr. ColdrickWould it not be an advantage to both the producer and the consumer if the disparity between the price of liquid milk to the consumer and that paid by the manufacturer were less than it is at present, since obviously the more liquid milk is consumed the better it is for both?
Mr. AmoryThe difficulty is that the Government feel that they cannot justify subsidising an article, even an article as good nutritionally as milk, to the extent to which we have been subsidising it to every man, woman and child in the country regardless of means or needs.