§ Mr. EDWARD STRAUSSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that for the first time in the experience of the milk trade the summer prices exceed the winter prices; can he say whether the present abnormal price is due to the farmers increasing their contract prices or to the action of a combine 2945W of milk distributors in London; and, if the latter, will the Government take action, by legislation or otherwise, to limit the price?
§ Mr. PRETYMANI am aware that the prices paid to farmers for milk are usually lower in summer than in winter, while the new contract prices fixed at Lady Day were higher than those fixed at Michaelmas last year. I have already pointed out, in reply to more than one question on this subject, that the increase in the contract price, as compared with the rates paid prior to the outbreak of war, represents the larger part of the increase in the retail price of milk in London.