§ 43. Mr. Hastingsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the average number of gallons of fresh milk consumed per year per person in each of the last eight years.
Mr. AmoryAs there are a number of figures involved, I will, with permission, circulate the details in the OFFICIAL REPORT. They show that notwithstanding a 2 per cent. decrease over the last eight years, consumption is 53 per cent. above pre-war.
§ Mr. HastingsIs the Minister satisfied with the consumption of milk in this country? Does he not realise that not only is milk a very valuable food but that milk production is particularly suited to our agricultural conditions? Will he do everything in his power to increase the consumption of milk in any way he thinks necessary?
Mr. AmoryI agree with what the hon. Gentleman says. I do not think that we have reached the ceiling of our desirable milk consumption. I should like to see 797 it go higher. [HON. MEMBERS: "Price."] At the present price it is very good value indeed as a foodstuff, and all I can say is that, as I have told the House, I am doing my bit.
Mr. WileyIs the Minister aware that it is quite ridiculous that the Milk Marketing Board should waste money on publicity when, by two successive price increases in past months, the Minister has depressed the consumption of milk, and is further doing so by increasing the price of welfare milk?
Mr. AmoryI am afraid that I cannot agree with what the hon. Gentleman has said. The present price of retail milk is thoroughly reasonable, both compared with the price before the war, and also, all things considered, compared with the price some years ago. The hon. Gentleman knows very well the Government's general policy of removing the general food subsidies, a process that was started by the hon. Gentleman's own Government.
§ Mr. J. E. B. HillWould my right hon. Friend agree that the consumption of milk is not nearly so much a question of price as of habit and, as a very distinguished milk drinker himself, would he say whether he would welcome the establishment of a modernised milk bar in the refreshment bars of this House so that we might set a good example?
Mr. AmoryI would welcome that, and I would ask my hon. Friend if he would give that practical and cordial support if and when it started.
§ Mr. WilleyHas the right hon. Gentleman not forgotten that he has repeatedly admitted here that the consumption of milk has fallen each time he has put up the price?
§ Following are the figures:
| Total consumption of liquid milk per head (gallons) | |||||
| (pre-war) | … | … | … | (21.1) | |
| 1949 | … | … | … | … | 33.0 |
| 1950 | … | … | … | … | 33.7 |
| 1951 | … | … | … | … | 33.8 |
| 1952 | … | … | … | … | 33.2 |
| 1953 | … | … | … | … | 32.5 |
| 1954 | … | … | … | … | 32.4 |
| 1955 | … | … | … | … | 32.3 |
| 1956 | … | … | … | … | 32.3 |