HC Deb 16 November 1939 vol 353 cc838-9W
Sir P. Hannon

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has considered a communication from the chairman of the Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Rutland, and Warwickshire National Farmers' Union Producer-Retailers' Committee protesting against the proposal of the milk distributive trade that an Order-in-Council should be made to prohibit the sale of milk before 8 a.m.; whether he will examine the statement embodied in this letter that the welfare of 90,000 farmers would be seriously affected in the event of the order being obtained; and whether the submission made to him will receive prompt attention?

Mr. W. Roberts

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to what extent voluntary arrangements amongst milk retailers now provide for only one delivery of milk to be made and what saving in distribution costs this represents to the retailers; and whether full account of this and other savings which may be made by pooling rounds will be fully accounted for before any increase in the retail price of milk is approved?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

My information is that voluntary arrangements for a single daily delivery are now in general operation in the milk distributive trade throughout England and Wales, and that similar arrangements are under consideration by the trade in Scotland. I am not in a position to say what saving this means in distributive costs, but this aspect of the matter is being fully considered by the Ministry of Food. No Order-in-Council limiting times of milk delivery is in contemplation.