§ Mr. Garro Jonesasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state the average price per gallon paid by distributors to the board for supplies of milk; the average levy per gallon on ordinary producers' output imposed by the Aberdeen and District Milk Marketing Board; the total increase per gallon up to February, 1937, in the average amount 1277W of the ordinary producers' levy; and the total increase per gallon up to February, 1937, in the average amount paid to the ordinary producers for milk?
§ Mr. ElliotThe monthly average price per gallon paid by distributors to the Aberdeen and District Milk Marketing Board for supplies of milk for the liquid market during the period from the inception of the scheme up to and including February, 1937, was 14.64d. per gallon; and the monthly average levy per gallon in respect of sales by ordinary producers during that period was 2.31d. There was an increase of 0.35d. per gallon in the monthly average levy on ordinary producers for the 12 months ended February, 1937, as compared with the monthly average levy for the preceding 12 months and also with that for the first 12 months of the scheme.
The monthly average prices paid to the ordinary producers for their supplies of milk within the limits of their basic quantities and in excess of these quantities during the 12 months ended February, 1937, showed decreases of 0.35d. and 0.33d. per gallon respectvely compared with the averages for the preceding 12 months and decreases of 0.02d. and 0.62d. per gallon respectively compared with the averages for the first 12 months of the scheme. On the basis of a weighted average, the price per gallon paid to the ordinary producers for their total supplies during the 12 months ended February, 1937, was less by 0.305d. and 0.010d. per gallon respectively than the price paid for the preceding 12 months and for the first 12 months of the scheme.
§ Mr. Garro Jonesasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is prepared to order an inquiry at an early date into the whole operation of the Aberdeen and District Milk Marketing Scheme?
§ Mr. ElliotThe operations of this scheme were recently the subject of investigation by the Milk Reorganisation Commission in connection with their comprehensive review of the working of organised milk marketing in Great Britain and I am not satisfied that any grounds exist to justify the further inquiry suggested.
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§ Mr. Garro Jonesasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the ordinary producers' milk levy, under the Aberdeen and District milk marketing scheme, has risen steadily since the inception of the scheme and now stands at 3¼d. per gallon, which is higher than the levy charged under any other milk marketing scheme in the country; and, seeing that, in view of the boards' authoritative powers, these increases in the producers' levy are viewed with concern by milk distributors in the area of the scheme who feel that they should not have increased prices imposed upon them on account of the board's handling of the producers' scheme, will he intervene in the matter?
§ Mr. ElliotI am aware that the levy of 3¼d. per gallon for February, 1937, was higher than for any previous month during the operation of the scheme, but not that the levy has risen steadily since the inception of the scheme. The prices determined by the board for the sale of milk during the year ending October, 1937, are on the same scale as in the years 1935 and 1936, and no representations have been made to me that milk distributors view with concern the amount of the producers' levy. I have no authority to intervene in the administration of an agricultural marketing scheme except in special circumstances on a report by the Committee of Investigation in accordance with Section 9 of the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1931.
§ Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of gallons of milk sold by producers in Scotland for manufacturing purposes for each of the 12 months ended 28th February, 1937; how many gallons were sold at prices above 6d., 6d. and above 5d., 5d. and above 4d., 4d. and above 3d., 3d. and above 2d., and 2d. and under per gallon for each of these months, respectively; and generally for what purposes the milk so sold was used?
§ Mr. ElliotThe following statement, compiled from statistics collected from the three Milk Marketing Boards concerned, shows in respect of each month during the year ended 28th February, 1937, the total quantity of milk supplied 1279W by registered producers under the Milk Marketing Schemes in Scotland which
Month. Total quantity used for manufacture. Quantities sold at the following prices— over 6d. 6d. and over 5d. 5d. and over 4d. 4d. and over 3d. 3d. and over 2d. 2d. and under. 1936. Gallons. Gallons. Gallons. Gallons. Gallons. Gallons. Gallons. March … 4,068,400 1,207,700 782,900 1,273,400 804,400 — — April … 5,143,200 1,246,500 778,500 1,856,500 1,261,700 — — May … 6,741,500 1,552,100 653,000 3,128,000 1,407,900 — 500 June … 7,012,100 1,642,200 1,944,700 2,187,400 1,235,800 100 1,900 July … 6,827,000 1,663,200 2,415,000 1,553,600 1,195,200 — — August … 5,529,700 2,954,200 1,477,000 1,089,500 — — — September … 3,959,500 2,390,300 621,400 947,800 — — — October … 2,985,200 1,908,700 263,300 813,200 — — — November … 1,761,000 1,284,600 157,000 319,400 — — December … 1,553,700 1,070,800 185,000 297,900 — — 1937. January … 1,673,200 1,336,800 31,800 304,300 200 100 — February … 1,789,400 1,387,500 6,800 394,900 — 200 — Total … 49,043,900 19,644,600 9,316,400 14,174,900 5,905,200 400 2,400 The quantities of milk used by the Milk Marketing Boards for manufacture are shown as having been sold at the same prices as were charged for supplies sold to private manufacturers. * The milk was used for the manufacture of the following products—fresh cream, butter, cheese, condensed milk, tinned cream, milk powder and margarine.