§ Mr. Lipsonasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Milk Marketing Board which fixes the price the producer is to receive for his milk will also be given power to determine the price which the distributor shall charge the consumer?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThe Milk Marketing Board derives its powers from the Milk Marketing Scheme, which was established under the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1931. The board has power to determine the prices at which registered milk producers may sell their milk, but under the Agricultural Marketing Act, the scheme could not give the board a similar power to determine the prices at which milk distributors who are not registered milk producers, shall sell milk by retail. Under paragraph 57 of2640W the scheme, however, the board may prescribe, as a term of the contract for the sale of milk by registered producers, that the purchaser shall not sell the milk by retail at less than certain minimum prices. Any amendment of the scheme, to extend this provision, would be a matter for consideration by the Milk Marketing Board and the registered milk producers in the first instance. I have no power to initiate amendments of Agricultural Marketing Schemes.