§ Sir G. Foxasked the Minister of Food if, in connection with the National Milk Scheme for children under five years of age, he will state the estimated money value of overclaims made by milk retailers between February, 1943, and the end of June, 1947; and how much of this has been recovered, specifying in particular the amount recovered in the southern region.
§ Mr. StracheyMilk retailers are under a statutory obligation to maintain records of the quantities of milk supplied to each beneficiary under the Welfare Foods Service. These records are checked in as great a proportion of cases as the number of suitable staff will allow, or whenever there is special reason for inquiry. Where, as a result of this examination, an overclaim is proved, steps are taken to recover the amount overpaid. As not all the beneficiaries under the scheme take up their full entitlement, there is scope for overclaim by retailers, but it is only in those cases where the records are actually examined by the Ministry's officers that any over-claim can be detected. The Ministry is not, therefore, in a position to state the estimated money value of all overclaims. The total amount recovered on over-claims up to 30th June, 1947, was £37,116, of which £7,793 related to the Southern Food Division.