Milk

HC Deb 30 May 1957 vol 571 cc590-3

24. Mr. Wiley

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average daily consumption of full price fresh milk for the months of March and April, respectively.

Mr. Godber

It is provisionally estimated to have been 3.51 million gallons in March and 3.48 million gallons in April in the United Kingdom. My right hon. Friend very much regrets that in his supplementary answer on 20th May, in denying the hon. Gentleman's allegations that there had been a substantial reduction, he inadvertently said that there had been no reduction.

Mr. Willey

Might I tell the hon. Gentleman how very much I appreciate the apology that he has made on behalf of his right hon. Friend? As his right hon. Friend said, before he made the inaccurate statement, that I was "off the beam," am I right in assuming that the right hon. Gentleman acknowledges that he himself was "off the beam"?

Mr. Godber

I do not think that I had better give that assurance on behalf of my right hon. Friend. I am sure that my right hon. Friend is always "on the beam," but it seems that this time the beam was a little "off target."

25. Mr. Beswick

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what reason he ascribes the fall in the sales of liquid milk of 6.13 million gallons in the year 1956–57.

Mr. Godber

Mainly to the fact that 1956 was a Leap Year. Nearly 4 million gallons were consumed on 29th February, 1956.

Mr. Beswick

Is not the hon. Gentleman deluding himself? Has there not been a consistently steady fall for some time, and has not the fall during the last year tended to be even greater? Does not the hon. Gentleman think that the real reason is the increase in the price of milk? In that case, may we see a reversal of the process of cutting the subsidy?

Mr. Godber

The reason is exactly as I have said. The bulk of the reduction to which the hon. Gentleman drew attention was caused by the fact that there was an extra day in February, 1956— Leap Year. There has been a reduction, but it has been very small. I would also point out that the price of milk went down again on 1st April this year.

30. Mr. Lipton

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why more than 2 million gallons of skimmed milk are being thrown away by the Milk Marketing Board every week; and what action he is taking in the matter.

Mr. Godber

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnor (Mr. Watkins) on 23rd May.

Mr. Lipton

Many excuses for the alleged glut of milk are made, but has the Parliamentary Secretary taken note of the fact that but for the considerable drop in fresh milk consumption, to the extent of millions of gallons a month, there would not be a glut at all? There is a relation between the drop in consumption of milk by the public and the glut of which people rightly complain.

Mr. Godber

It is important to have our facts right. It is no use building up a glut by a form of words. The hon. Member has spoken of more than 2 million gallons of skimmed milk a week being thrown away. In fact, in no single week in this current year or in any year has that figure been reached. I agree that the figures are considerable and we must not detract from them, but in fact no whole milk of any sort has been thrown away and at present the wastage of skimmed milk has almost stopped for this season.

Mr. du Cann

If surplus milk is being thrown away, whatever the quantity, could it not be made available through the United Nations Children's Fund for children suffering from mulnutrition in the British Empire and other countries?

Mr. Godber

While sympathising with that view, I would add that we have to look at the matter practically. This is skimmed milk, the value of it is not very high, and the difficulties of transportation make the suggestion out of the question.

Mr. Willey

When such huge quantities of milk are being poured down disused pits and quarries, are adequate steps taken to safeguard public health?

Mr. Godber

So far as I am aware, there is no question of danger to public health arising, but I will look into that aspect.