§ 99. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what investigations have been made by his Department into alleged price rings amongst industrial purchasers of milk.
§ Mr. GodberMy Department has made no such investigations. Prices of milk for manufacturing purposes are determined as a result of negotiations between the Milk Marketing Board and representatives of the manufacturers.
Price rings are the concern of the Registrar of Restrictive Trading Agreements, and the Restrictive Practices Court.
§ 100. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what directions he gives to the Milk Marketing Board concerning the sale of milk surplus to requirements for liquid consumption; to what extent such milk is currently sold at a loss; and what proportion of this loss is made up by his Department.
§ Mr. GodberThe Milk Marketing Board undertakes the sale of milk surplus to the requirements of the liquid market without directions from my right hon. Friend. All milk for manufacturing purposes is currently being sold at less than the price paid to the producer. Payment to the Milk Marketing Board by my Department to fulfil the guarantee under the Agriculture Ad represents less than 10 per cent. of the difference between the average selling price for manufacturing milk and the producers' price. The arrangements under which these payment are made are set out in the Milk (Guaranteed Prices) Order, 1956, and I am sending the hon. Member a copy.
§ Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government that the consumer should benefit from the reduction of 1d. a gallon in the guaranteed price for milk to producers, following the Annual Price Review.
§ Mr. John HareThe Government have decided that maximum retail prices for milk shall be reduced by a ½d. a pint from 1st May to 30th September, 1958.