§ Colonel ROPNERasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the discrepancy between the 7d. per gallon price paid to the milk producer and the 2s. per gallon price paid by the consumer in the York area; and whether he can take any steps to reduce the discrepancy in question?
§ Mr. ELLIOTThe price at which milk was sold by wholesale for liquid consumption during May was 1s. a gallon, and the pool price paid to producers in the Northern Region was 9½d. per gallon. The retail prices varied between 1s. 8d. and 2s. a gallon, according to districts. As my hon. and gallant Friend is doubtless aware, the gap between the pool price and the wholesale price is due to the sale at low prices of large quantities of milk, surplus to the requirements of the liquid market, and the increasing quantities of milk which have to be disposed of at these low rates is receiving the close and anxious consideration of the Milk Marketing Board. As to the difference between the wholesale price and retail prices, I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that the Food Council are at present conducting an investigation into the costs of milk distribution.