§ Major W. MURRAYasked the Minister of Food whether the controlled price of cheese in Scotland is 2d. per 1b. less than in England; whether he will state the reasons for this differentiation; whether the price of Scottish cheese was fixed with the assent of the Scottish Board of Agriculture; and whether, in view of the increased cost of production, the high prices of feeding-stuffs, and the scarcity of pasture now obtaining in Scotland, he will now reconsider his decision in regard to this matter?
§ Mr. McCURDYThe price per lb. of cheese is obtained by adding 2d. to the wholesale price per gallon of milk, and, apart from the special provision for the recent drought in England, the average price of cheese for the summer months is the same for both England and Scotland. At the request of the Scottish producers. the monthly prices for milk in Scotland were varied from the English monthly prices so that, though the average price throughout the summer was the same, the prices in the two countries differed from month to month. The principle on which the price of cheese is arrived at was accepted by the Board of Agriculture in Scotland.
397WWith regard to the last part of the question, Scottish producers have received the benefit of higher prices for milk and cheese during May and June, and I am not prepared to ask the Travelling Commission to review the Scottish prices for the later summer months.