§ Colonel Sir Leonard Ropnerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, whether he will now accept the recommendations of the 163W Thorold Committee on milk distributors' remuneration.
§ Mr. SoamesThe Secretary of State for Scotland and I have decided to accept the general principles on which the Thorold Committee based its recommendations on the price structures, namely that Government control of price levels and distributive margins should continue for a further period and that all processing dairymen should continue to be able to obtain bulk raw milk at the same basic price. We are glad to note the Committee's view that the sample of retailers in England and Wales used for costings purposes has been broadly successful in achieving appropriate representation of the main sectors of the trade. Many of the recommendations in the report dealt with highly complicated issues and it will be necessary to discuss them in detail with the milk industry before decisions can be taken on them.