§ Sir T. Mooreasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can assign any reason for the reduced consumption of milk throughout the country during the last six weeks?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonParticulars of the sale of milk under the Milk Marketing Scheme in England and Wales during January are not yet available, but wholesale sales for liquid consumption during December last showed an average daily decrease of 1.5 per cent. compared with November. A slight decrease in the average daily rate of consumption appears to be usual in December, but I should hesitate to assign a specific reason for it. I may add that sales for liquid consumption in December, 1937, were higher than in the corresponding month of 1936.
§ Captain P. Macdonaldasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state the present position with regard to the preparation of legislation for enabling local authorities to enforce the pasteurisation of milk in their area?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave on 7th February to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for South Cardiff (Captain A. Evans).
§ Major Carverasked the Minister of Agriculture what has been the approximate increase in the sales of liquid milk in Great Britain during 1937 and in the amounts received by the producers concerned?
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§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonI regret that I am unable to state what has been the total increase in sales of milk for liquid consumption during 1937, as complete figures of sales by producer-retailers are not yet available, but during the year wholesale sales for liquid consumption under the Milk Marketing Scheme increased by 31.7 million gallons compared with 1936. The average pool price received by wholesale producers in 1937 was eight-tenths of a penny per gallon more than in 1936. My hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate that this increase is not wholly attributable to the increased sales for liquid consumption. For information regarding the position in Scotland, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.
§ Sir T. Mooreasked the Minister of Agriculture what is the present approximate daily consumption of milk sold at cheap rates in the Special Areas and in the schools, respectively; and what is the present position with regard to an early extension of these schemes?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonApproximately 9,400 pints of milk per day are being consumed by nursing and expectant mothers and children under school age under the Milk Marketing Board's experimental scheme for the supply of milk at cheap rates in certain parts of the Special Areas in England and Wales. The consumption of milk under the Milk-in-Schools Scheme in England and Wales is approximately 900,000 pints per school day.
I understand that the Milk Marketing Board do not at present, contemplate any extension of their experimental schemes in the Special Areas, but as was stated in the recent White Paper on Milk Policy the Government will bring forward proposals for securing, in co-operation with the industry, a reduction in the price of liquid milk to local authorities generally for the purpose of their maternity and child welfare arrangements. As also announced in the White Paper, it is proposed to continue the Milk-in-Schools Scheme, and to consider the need for minor modifications to meet difficulties which have arisen in its administration.