Duchess of ATHOLLasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, what points in regard to the Scottish milk marketing scheme are being examined by the Investigation Committee; and when does he expect the Committee will be able to issue a Report?
§ Sir G. COLLINSThe Committee of Investigation for Scotland have reported on complaints regarding the charge of 1s. 5d. per gallon for milk sold by registered producers to distributors whose total daily sales do not exceed 50 gallons. The Committee, after taking account of the relevant factors, including the consideration that the present scale of prices will lapse on 1st April, 1934, when a new contract period will commence, have come to the conclusion that it would be premature and would serve no useful purpose at this stage to investigate the complaints fully by hearing formal evidence from the Scottish Milk Marketing Board or from the complainants. The Committee propose, therefore, to take no further action in the meantime. In the interval the grievances of the complainants have been remedied in part by1532W the new scale of prices fixed by the Board for the new contract period. No other matters are at present under consideration by the Committee.