§ Major Procterasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the new responsibilities placed upon the Milk Marketing Board by the provisions of Statutory Rule and Order No. 1716, he can arrange to alter the composition at the earliest opportunity, so as to ensure that its membership shall provide an equal balance between distributing and consuming interests, and to remove the anxiety of consumers and distributors that such wide powers should have been placed in the hands of a Board which, in its present form, is a producers' monopoly?
Major Lloyd GeorgeMy Noble Friend sees no occasion to alter the composition of the Milk Marketing Board in consequence of the powers which have recently been conferred upon that organisation to enable them to implement his policy. These powers are being exercised under his general supervision and subject to his direction, and there is no ground for anxiety on the part of consumers or distributors.
Mr. De la Bèreasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will have inquiries made regarding the failure of the Milk Marketing Board to pay Mr. E. J. Harris, of Manor Farm, Aston Magna, Moreton - in - Marsh, Gloucestershire, the money due to him in connection with supplying milk under the national scheme for free and cheap milk; and, in this connection, whether he will take immediate steps to curtail the amount of clerical work which is involved and expedite the simplification of all matters dealing with the claim forms?
Major Lloyd GeorgeI am informed that Mr. Harris submitted in September his claims for payment in respect of milk supplied by him under the National Milk Scheme in July and August, 1940, and that a cheque was despatched to him on the 11th October. His claim for the month of September will be paid within the next week. The procedure in connection with the submission of claims for payment under the National Milk Scheme is being reviewed in consultation with representatives of the interests concerned, with a view to its simplification.
Mr. David Adamsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food 1456W whether he is aware of the serious short-age in supplies of milk in the Consett, County Durham, area; and whether immediate steps will be taken to rectify the same?
Major Lloyd GeorgeSo far as I am aware there is no shortage of milk in the Consett area at the present time; only one case, of very small dimensions, has been reported recently and this has already been dealt with, but if my hon. Friend will give me particulars of the cases he has in mind, I shall be very happy to look into them.