§ Mr. Denvilleasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state what is the present composition of the Milk Distributors' Consultative Committee; what proportion of the membership of this committee represents the interests of small creameries; and what steps are taken by the Milk Marketing Board to consult and obtain the approval of this committee before new creameries are established by the board or before supplies are diverted from existing creameries operated by private enterprise?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonI assume that my hon. Friend has in mind the Central Milk Distributive Committee, which is a voluntary organisation consisting of 31 members nominated by associations or bodies representing milk distributors and manufacturers of milk products. I am sending my hon. Friend particulars of the present composition of this committee. I understand that the National Association of Creamery Proprietors and Wholesale Dairymen and the manufacturing section of the National Dairymen's Association represent the interests of all types of creameries, but I have no knowledge of the extent to which small creameries are represented. The Milk Marketing Board are not required to consult the Central 3335W Milk Distributive Committee before establishing factories, and do not in fact do so. Consultation as to the diversion of supplies takes place through the medium of a joint committee consisting of representatives of the board and of the Central Milk Distributive Committee.
§ Mr. Fyfeasked the Minister of Agriculture what steps were taken by the Milk Marketing Board before establishing a creamery at Newbury to ascertain whether the requisite milk supplies for that creamery would not disturb the supplies to other creameries in the same area; and what means haw been taken by the board to overcome the difficulties of supply which obliged them previously to lay down that no new creameries of any kind were to be established within 150 miles of the London consuming area?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonI am informed by the Milk Marketing Board that before deciding to establish a creamery at Newbury to meet the marketing needs of their producers in the southern region, they ascertained that supplies were likely to be available in that area without undue disturbance of supplies to other creameries. I am also informed that there has not been any requirement by the board that no new creameries should be established within 150 miles of London.