§ Mr. H. G. Williamsasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that both the Milk Marketing Board and the London County Council refuse to give any information as to the terms of the contract recently concluded between them for milk supplies; and whether, in view of the anxiety of the milk distributive trade lest the Milk Marketing Board should in this case have quoted prices below the minimum ones which it imposes upon the distributive trade, he will take steps either to arrange that the information shall be published or to enable the whole subject to be examined by a committee of investigation in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1931?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithI have no authority to obtain the information or to arrange that it shall be published, and I can only consider the reference to a committee of investigation of a formal complaint made to me under Section 9 of the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1931. No such complaint has been made.
§ Mr. Pilkingtonasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is considering arrangements by which some adjustment can be made between the price of milk for manufacturing purposes and liquid milk for consumption?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithNo, Sir. The prices at which milk may be sold by registered producers in England and Wales are prescribed by the Milk Marketing Board after consultation with representatives of the wholesale purchasers. I have no power to intervene.