Dr. Morganasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the difficulties in controlling the supplies of milk available to producer-retailers, as compared with ordinary distributors, especially in areas where the majority of milk retailers are producer-retailers; whether in such areas, frequently near some towns, the decision that in country districts the producer-retailer should not be entitled to receive a permit for condensed milk could be changed or amended, especially in those cases where producer-retailers on the borders of large towns supply all their milk to these towns, and yet are treated on the same footing as the country producer-retailer; whether supplies of condensed milk could be made available to all producer-retailers; and, if any change or amendment in the Milk Scheme in this way is intended, will an official departmental announcement be made and broadcasted?
Major Lloyd GeorgeAs regards the first part of the Question, the milk supplies of producer-retailers are now controlled under the Milk Diversion Order in the same way as those of any other distributor. All producer-retailers must make a declaration stating their supply and sales of milk, and must dispose of any surplus over and above the quantity needed to meet the quantity shown on their certificate of requirements in accordance with directions made by or on behalf of the Minister. Producer-retailers in country districts have not so far been called upon to surrender any part of their liquid milk, and have not been entitled to supplies of220W evaporated milk. The extent to which any surpluses will be diverted will be determined in the light of an examination of the returns submitted under the Order mentioned. It will then be possible to consider how far supplies of evaporated milk might be made available to the producer-retailers affected. Full publicity will, of course, be given to any change.