§ 44. Mr. Hastingsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to increase the standard quantity of liquid milk as the market expands; and whether he expects an expansion during the current year.
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§ Mr. PeartThe standard quantity is adjusted each year to take account of changes in sales of milk for liquid consumption. It was estimated at this year's Price Review that liquid sales would increase this year and the standard quantity was increased to take account of this.
§ 45. Mr. Awdryasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in the inquiry into the system of milk distribution; and what proposals he now has to reduce the gap between the price which the farmer receives for his milk and the price which the consumer pays.
§ Mr. PeartMr. J. L. Davies's investigations are well under way and I hope to receive his report by the end of the summer. Clearly I cannot anticipate the results of his inquiry.
§ 46. Mr. Hugh Fraserasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what an increase in the retail price of ½d. per pint of milk over a full year represents in terms of an increase in pence per gallon in the guaranteed price to producers, if all the extra revenue is used to bring about this increase in the guaranteed price.
60. Mr. W. T. Williamsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the national level of contamination of milk by antibiotics over the past 12 months.
§ Mr. HoyThe latest information on the level of antibiotics in milk was published in 1963, following a special survey which took two years. No further survey has taken place. At that time, antibiotic residues, in minute quantities, were found in 14 per cent. of all milk sampled. There is reason to think that action taken since then, including the labelling of drugs with the time for which milk from treated cows should be withheld, and advice to farmers by veterinary surgeons, has had a salutary effect. The position should improve still further when the Milk Marketing Board is able to introduce a scheme of penalties against producers supplying milk which is found to contain antibiotics.
§ Mr. Bessellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will 220W restore to the Milk Marketing Board full powers of distribution and control.
§ Mr. PeartAs stated in the announcement on the talks between the Government and the Unions, discussions are to be initiated on the Unions' request for a reconsideration of the marketing arrangements for milk.