Brigadier-General Brownasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has yet informed the Milk Board of his intention to release them from their liability to repay £26,320 for milk used in manufacture in 1937; and whether he will now consider a levy subsidy on imported milk products, as recommended by the Milk Board and endorsed by milk producers at their annual general meeting last week?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonThe Milk Marketing Boards will be aware from the White Paper on Milk Policy, issued in July last, of the Government's intention to release them from any liability accruing after 421W the 30th September, 1937, for the repayment of advances under the Milk Acts, 1934 to 1937; but it is not intended to release the boards from the liability which accrued up to that date. As regards the second part of the question, before formulating their milk policy the Government gave very careful consideration to the question of a levy subsidy system for the milk industry, but reached the conclusion that the method of direct Exchequer assistance, coupled with a price insurance plan, as announced in the White Paper, was preferable.
Brigadier-General Brownasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn.to the recommendation of the Joint Committee on the Food and Drugs Bill that substantial amendment of the law relating to milk would be more suitably effected in the coming Milk Bill; and whether he intends to do so?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonI am aware of the reference of the Joint Committee on the Food and Drugs Bill to which my hon. Friend refers. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Health and I are considering, in connection with the forthcoming milk legislation, the proposals which were made to the Committee for amending the law relating to milk.
§ Mr. Donnerasked the Minister of Agriculture how many distributors have raised the price of milk to the public during the month of May?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonI regret that the information for which my hon. Friend asks is not available.