§ Mr. LEONARDasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the fact that, owing to the regulations of the Milk Marketing Boards, some hospitals have had the price of milk raised against them from 33 per cent. to 63 per cent.; and to what extent the matter is being considered, so as to assure no limitation of milk con- 565W sumption in such institutions and no substitution of inferior grades?
§ Sir J. HASLAMasked the Minister of Agriculture what is the reason why hospitals cannot purchase the milk they require for their own use at about the same wholesale price as they did before the existence of the Milk Marketing Board?
§ Mr. ELLIOTAs regards the prices payable by hospitals for milk supplied under the Scottish Milk Marketing Scheme, 1933, which were considered by the Committee of Investigation for Scotland, I would refer the hon. Member for St. Rollox (Mr. Leonard) to the reply given on 8th April by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen North (Mr. Burnett,), of which I am sending him a copy. The position in England and Wales is that the Milk Marketing Board have prescribed a form of contract under which hospitals contracting with producers can obtain supplies at the wholesale price with small additional premiums for level deliveries or other special services. Hospitals not contracting with producers may obtain supplies from wholesalers under the resale clauses of the ordinary contract at the wholesale price plus premiums varying from ½d. per gallon for large quantities to 1½d. per gallon for small quantities. From particulars furnished by the British Hospitals Association, it appears that as regards approximately two-thirds of the voluntary hospitals in England and Wales the price paid for milk during 1934 was, on the average, about 15 per cent. more than in the year preceding the scheme, but that in individual cases the increase was 33 per cent. and in one instance 63 per cent. I understand that the Association have discussed the matter with the Milk Marketing Board, and that after very careful consideration the board have not been able to see their way to authorise the sale of milk to hospitals at less than the rates laid down, but they have suggested that if the Association can obtain the concurrence of the Central Milk Distributive Committee (as representing the distributive trade) to the supply at net wholesale prices they will give sympathetic consideration to a variation of the terms of sale accordingly.
§ Sir J. HASLAMasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the 566W indignation that exists among hospital authorities at the high prices they have to pay for their milk supplies compared with the low prices paid by chocolate and cheese makers, he will take steps to obviate this differentiation?
§ Mr. ELLIOTMy hon. Friend will appreciate that the effect of replacing purchases of milk at liquid rates by purchases at the manufacturing prices is to increase the loss already occasioned to milk producers by reason of these prices. I am not quite sure what steps my hon. Friend has in mind to meet this difficulty, but I should be glad to consider any proposals he suggests.
§ Sir J. HASLAMasked the Minister of Agriculture whether it is possible to make arrangements that where a public authority is the owner of a farm they can purchase their milk requirements direct from their tenant without the intervention of the Milk Marketing Board?
§ Mr. ELLIOTThe milk marketing scheme gives power to the Milk Marketing Board to exempt from the operation of the marketing provisions of the scheme sales of such classes or descriptions as may be determined by the board. The question raised by my hon. Friend is therefore a matter for the board.