§ Lieut-Colonel Macnamaraasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the milk retailers in Billericay, Essex, are trading at a loss as a result of the cuts imposed upon them by the Ministry; whether he will have their castings investigated immediately; and whether he is aware that his refusal to have the matter looked into by his Ministry when asked to do so by letter is causing hardship amongst the people concerned?
§ Mr. MabaneThe experience of the retail dairymen in Billericay during the eight weeks from 25th July to 18th September, when their margin will be reduced by 4d. per gallon, will not accurately represent their position throughout the year. For convenience of administration they receive during the remainder of the year a margin in excess of the amount justified by the costings investigation, and this excess will offset the forthcoming reduction. The costings investigation upon which the distributive margin has been determined is based upon the accounts kept by representative dairymen in the different parts of the country. The dairymen were selected, in consultation with the trade, as being representative of all classes of distributors serving all types of areas. My Noble Friend could not agree to a special investigation being made into the costs of the Billericay retail dairymen.