§ 10. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how milk production for the past three months compares with production in the same period of 1955 and the average for the five years 1951 to 1955; and to what extent the consumption of liquid milk in the past five years has increased.
Mr. AmoryIn July, August and September, 1955, sales off farms in England and Wales totalled 390.5 million gallons ; the figure for the corresponding period this year was 426.8 million gallons. The average for the five years 1951–55 was 374.8 million gallons. The quantity of milk sold for liquid consumption in the last twelve months was about 2.4 per cent. less than it was five years ago.
§ Mr. WilleyIn view of the fall in the consumption of liquid milk, does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is really scandalous to put up the retail price again, thus further depressing the consumption of liquid milk?
Mr. AmoryAs I have explained to the House, the most recent increase in the price of milk—the one to be made on 1st January next—was a decision reached purely on budgetary and financial grounds.
§ Mr. WilleyDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean by that reply that he was not consulted about it and is no party to it?
§ Dame Florence HorsbrughWould my right hon. Friend not agree that it is perhaps natural that the consumption of milk should go down as the consumption of other foods has gone up and that when the consumption of other foods was so low there was a higher consumption of milk?
Mr. AmoryI agree with my right hon. Friend. I think that is undoubtedly so. The public today has a much wider choice of food supplies than it had five years ago.
§ 28. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he had with the Milk Marketing Board about the decision to increase the retail price of milk.
§ Mr. WilleyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, quite apart from its general unfairness, the producers and the Milk Marketing Board are very upset by the recent announcement regarding the 1927 retail price increase for milk? Is he also aware that before the war the housewife subsidised the manufacturer and it looks as if this may happen again? Is he further aware that the producers believe that, far from helping them in their present difficulties with regard to surplus, this is likely to aggravate the position, and for these reasons will he consult the Milk Marketing Board?
Mr. AmoryI am, of course, aware of the general views of the Milk Marketing Board, but, as I explained in answer to an earlier Question, this particular decision was taken on budgetary and financial grounds.
§ Mr. WilleyWill the right hon. Gentleman consult the Board in view of the complaints which it has made and the statement which it has recently issued?