§ 63. Mr. Morleyasked the Minister of Food if he will now, in view of the threatened rise in the cost of living due to the revaluation of the pound sterling in relation to the dollar, make arrangements for a free issue of milk to old age pensioners.
§ Mr. StracheyI fear that I cannot make a further concession in the price of milk, which is already subsidised to the extent of £82 million a year.
§ Mr. Linsteadasked the Minister of Food why hospitals are not permitted to obtain extra milk above their standard three and a half pints per head per week at those times in the year when suppliers have excess milk available and offer it to hospitals.
§ Mr. StracheyHospitals are not at any time limited to three and a half pints per head per week. The minimum supply to them is five pints per head per week. A supplier may also sell them extra quantities beyond the minimum if he has any surplus after he has met the needs of his domestic consumers.
§ Mr. J. Morrisonasked the Minister of Food what percentage of the milk supply is going to persons with a doctor's priority certificate as compared with a year ago.
§ Mr. StracheyLast winter the percentage was 6.1. We have not collected statistics for this winter as yet.
§ Mr. J. Morrisonasked the Minister of Food why a local food committee cannot authorise a mother with a baby to change her milk supplier so as to get milk in the morning instead of the afternoon.
§ Mr. StracheyThis is one of the decisions which have to be reserved to divisional food officers in order to ensure some uniformity of treatment.