§ Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Food if he will now give details of the future marketing arrangements for milk and the safeguards provided for the various interests concerned when the milk marketing boards resume their powers on 1st April.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThe Government will cease to trade in milk from 1st April. Marketing powers will be restored to the milk marketing boards on that date. There have been joint discussions with the various parties about the safeguards for trade and other interests. The leaders of both sides of the industry have shown understanding and goodwill in these discussions, and general agreement has now been reached. There will be joint committees of the boards and the milk distributive and processing trades to deal with problems of mutual concern. So long as an element of consumer subsidy continues, the Government will retain responsibility for approving both prices and distributive margins of milk sold for liquid consumption. Revised arrangements for implementing the price
28WDepartment has purchased during the last 12 months to the last convenient date.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThe following statement gives an analysis by classes of the fatstock purchased toy the Ministry of Food in the United Kingdom in 1953.
guarantees for milk have been agreed with the boards and National Farmers' Unions and the details will be announced as soon as possible. Special arrangements will apply to Northern Ireland where there is no milk marketing board.