§ Colonel Lord HENRY CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the increased cost of the concentrated feeding stuffs is largely responsible for the rise in the price of milk; and whether the Food Controller will have power to regulate the price charged for these foods, in view of the fact that the oil and cake crushing companies have since the War began enormously increased their profits?
§ Mr. PRETYMANI am aware that the cost of feeding stuffs, including oil seed cake, is an imoprtant factor in determining the price at which milk can be sold. The powers conferred by the Regulation just made extend to feeding stuffs.
§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that Faulkes and Company, of Jermyn Street, London, have a factory close to Harby and Stothern station, near Melton Mowbray, and have bought from the farmers of the district practically all their milk supply, giving a higher price for it than they could get in London; if he is aware that about 1,000 gallons of this milk per day passes through milk separators and that all the cream is extracted from the milk, the cream being sold to the big London hotels and restaurants; if he is aware that the milk, after the cream has been extracted, is sent to London and sold for making pastry and cakes; and if he intends taking any action in preventing so much milk being used in this manner?
§ Mr. PRETYMANI have received a statement from my hon. Friend to the effect stated in his question. At present I cannot say more than that this will be duly considered, together with all other relevant factors varying on the food supply of 1243W the people by the authorities charged with the administration of the Regulation recently made.