§ Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the cost of the Compositional Milk Quality scheme in 1964–65; and whether he is satisfied that testing for total solids can be fairly carried out.
§ Mr. HoyAt the last Annual Review ¼d. per gallon was added to the guaranteed price of milk to help to finance the payment of premiums under the compositional quality schemes; the value of this is estimated to be about £2¼ million for 1964–65.
I understand that the methods used for the determination of total solids are those recommended by the British Standards Institution. In England and Wales a general oversight of testing is exercised by the Liaison Chemist Service of the Joint Committee of the Milk Marketing Board and the Central Milk Distributive Committee. I have no reason to doubt the efficiency or justice of the testing arrangements.