§ Brigadier-General Clifton Brownasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that, though it may not be his intention to prevent any distributor who so desires from signing special premium contracts, the cooperatives and large dairy distributing firms have circularised their smaller firms not to sign special premium contracts; and whether he will stop this procedure and thereby continue to encourage producers to improve their standards of milk?
§ Mr. MabaneAs the Ministry of Food has assumed the responsibility for providing level deliveries to distributors it is no longer necessary for such distributors to pay producers a special premium for level delivery and comparable services. The producer obtains his reward for level delivery in the form of a heavily weighted winter price. I have not seen the circular to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, but if it relates to level delivery 1999W and similar premiums I cannot believe that it will discourage producers from improving their standards of milk, particularly as quality premiums are not excluded and may still be paid by distributors.