§ 5. Mr. Priorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average price realised by the Milk Marketing Board for milk sold for butter-making and milk sold for processing for condensed milk in 1958.
§ Mr. John HareFigures for the calendar year 1958 are not readily available. For the twelve months ended 31st March, 1959, the average prices for milk for butter making and condensed milk processing were 9.96d. and 21.77d. a gallon, respectively.
§ Mr. PriorDo not these figures show that the price realised for condensed milk is far higher than that for butter? Would it not be worth while to reintroduce the quota on imported milk products so as to raise the price of wholesale milk for manufacturing purposes and, by so doing, to reduce the amount of subsidy which farmers will be paid under the milk subsidy?
§ Mr. HareI do not know whether my hon. Friend is aware that we are net exporters of condensed milk. I think that this trade would be jeopardised if we were to try to impose a restriction on imports.
§ Mr. PriorIf we are importing considerably larger quantities of condensed milk this year, as the figures show, and the Milk Marketing Board has asked for the quota to be reimposed, it must mean that at the moment condensed milk consumption is drawing away from liquid milk consumption and we are losing a considerable revenue as a result.
§ Mr. HareMy hon. Friend has not got this right. The figures which I gave were for the year ended 31st March. 1959. We are importing less condensed milk this year and we are net exporters of condensed milk.