§ Mr. HURDasked the Minister of Agriculture if he has received representations from the Somerset branch of the National 1882W Farmers' Union regarding his statement of the 20th March that the producers' monthly average price for milk delivered in London in the last 12 month was 1s. 9¾d. per gallon; and whether the average price received in the southwestern counties received in the southwestern counties was only 1s. 3¾d., showing a margin between the price paid to the producer and the retail price of 140 per cent. instead of 68 per cent.?
Sir A. BOSCAWENI have received the representations referred to. My statement of the 20th March was based on the average prices of milk delivered into London from all parts of the country. I understand that normally dealers do not pay the same price for milk from Somerset as for milk from districts nearer London, but I am not clear that the difference is so large as is suggested in the question.