§ Sir R. Gowerasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the indefinite promise to the farmer of a satisfactory price when the winter period arrives will not induce him, in view of his past experience, so to order his dairy herds that cows will be coming into milk in the winter period; and whether he will take the necessary steps to ensure that there is no shortage of supplies of milk as there was in the last war?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonThe assurance regarding the guaranteed return to milk producers for the winter period from 1st October, 1940, to 31st March, 1941, was given after full preliminary consultation with representatives of the producers themselves. I am satisfied that this statement gives adequate assurance to producers to encourage them to make the necessary preparations for maintaining the output of milk during the winter period.
§ Mr. T. Williamsasked the Minister of Food why farmers have to wait so long for payment for the milk delivered to the Milk Marketing Board; and whether he will ask the Board to try and expedite payments in future?
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§ Mr. MorrisonI understand that the Milk Marketing Board pays producers for the milk they deliver as soon as possible after the date on which the detailed returns of sales have been received from producers. These returns should be in the Board's hands by the 7th of the month following the month in which the milk was delivered. Since the war less than 20 per cent. of returns from producers have reached the Board within the seven days mentioned. Notwithstanding this, the Board is this year paying slightly earlier in the month than was the case a year ago.