§ Mr. PIKEasked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to the agreement arrived at between members of the South Yorkshire (Rotherham) branch of the National Farmers' Union and the co-operative wholesale societies operating in that area to retail milk under the Milk Marketing Scheme at 7d. per quart; and, as such contracts operate in favour of the co-operative societies by reason of the dividend offer made to consumers, if he will assure the House that the interests of private traders in milk will be guarded against co-operative competition?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI have no knowledge of the agreement to which my hon. Friend refers, but I would point out that the terms of the contracts prescribed by the Milk Marketing Board governing the return of dividends to customers by cooperative societies are similar to those applicable to other retailers.