§ Flight-Lieutenant Teelingasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that in certain areas of Brighton and Hove milkmen only deliver milk twice or three times a week; that it is impossible for single people, perhaps with no refrigerator, to keep milk from going sour for three or sometimes four days in the week; and what remedy he proposes for this difficulty.
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§ Sir B. SmithI am aware that owing to the withdrawal of half-pint bottles by certain dairymen, deliveries to some non-priority consumers in Brighton and Hove have been reduced to two or three times weekly. I appreciate the hardship which this restriction creates for people living alone, but the shortage of half-pint bottles and of labour to fill them makes it difficult for some dairymen to maintain a full delivery service. It should, however, be possible for the dairymen to arrange for a few half-pint bottles to be filled for meeting the requirements of people living alone.
§ Sir P. Macdonaldasked the Minister of Food what steps are being taken by his Ministry to relieve the present shortage of milk bottles and whether, in view of the fact that many dairymen cannot maintain normal deliveries of milk because of this shortage, he will arrange that it shall receive priority treatment before the winter.
§ Sir B. SmithEvery effort is being made to relieve the present shortage of milk bottles, which is mainly due to the lack of suitable labour in the bottle-making plants. Additional labour is being obtained for these plants, and the Service Departments are co-operating by the release of a number of men under Class B. All practicable steps are being taken as a matter of urgency to conserve the existing supplies of milk bottles and to increase the output of new ones.