§ Sir G. Foxasked the Minister of Agriculture what is the total amount of the deficiency in the payments to milk producers in England and Wales, under Section 1 of the Milk Act, 1934, for the period 1st October, 1934, to the 31st December, 1936; whether he is aware that the effect of such deficiency has been to deprive milk producers in England and Wales of the full benefit of the standard prices of 5d. and 6d. per gallon in the summer and winter months, respectively, guaranteed by the Milk Act, 1934; and what steps he proposes to take, when the provisions of the existing Acts expire in September next, to remedy this anomaly?
§ Mr. RamsbothamI have been asked to reply. If the payments to the Milk Board under Section 1 of the Milk Act, 1934, as extended by the 1936 Act, had all been at a rate equal to the difference between the net cost per gallon of the milk to the purchaser and the standard price, they would in respect of milk manufactured during the period mentioned have amounted to £2,541,418 10S. 5d. The Act, however, provides that if the cheese-milk price, as defined in the Act, is higher than the net cost per gallon to the purchaser, the rate of payment is to be the difference between that price and the standard price, and accordingly the actual payments to the Board for the period mentioned amounted to £1,717,179 7s. 4d. As regards the last part of the question, my right hon. Friend cannot at present make any statement with regard to future policy.