§ Mr. Lathanasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the serious difficulties for large consumers of milk, like hospitals, which have arisen from the regulations and fixed prices of the Milk Marketing Board; whether he is aware that in the case of the Sheffield Royal Hospital the average price per gallon has risen since September, 1933, from 1s. to 1s. 5¼d., and that on a smaller consumption the total cost has risen from £1,190 to £1,732; and whether any steps are contemplated to secure a reduction in the price of milk for hospitals and similar institutions?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonI appreciate that large consumers of milk, such as hospitals, who derived advantage from the disorganised market conditions prevailing before the Milk Marketing Scheme came into force, have now to pay more for milk than formerly; and I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on this subject to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson) on 22nd November last.
Mr. Woodasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, taking the figures available for the last four weeks, he will state the amount of milk which has been allocated to cheese and butter makers, and the amount allocated to other manufacturers using milk; and what complaints he has received during this period?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonThe following are the quantities of milk sold under the Milk Marketing Scheme for manufacturers in the month of January. These are the most recent figures available:
Gallons. Butter 897,073 Cheese 1,826,744 Other manufacture 12,220,764 Total 14,944,581 No new complaints have been made to me by manufacturers since the beginning of January, but I have received additional representations in respect of two complaints made previously.