Mr. A. HERBERTasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Government is aware that, owing to its recent declaration, the responsibility for repaying the twopences illegally exacted from the farmers of Somerset, Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall rests upon the shoulders of the licence-holders who purchased the milk, and that up to now these twopences have not been returned to the farmers; and what steps the Government promises to take?
§ Sir R. SANDERSWith regard to the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my predecessor on 2nd August last. With regard to the second part, the Government are unable to pay the claims of licence holders until the assent of Parliament has been received to the Clause relating to milk contained in the War Charges (Validity) Bill which is now before the House.