§ Mr. Gardnerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the report made to him by Mr. J. L. Davies on his inquiry into the methods of milk distribution in England and Wales.
§ Mr. PeartMy purpose in inviting Mr. J. L. Davies to carry out this inquiry was to have independent and expert advice on possible ways of securing further economies in milk distribution between the farm and the processing dairy and between the dairy and the consumer.
In his report which is being published today, Mr. Davies recommends that more milk should reach processing dairies direct from the farm. The Government accepts that this should be the aim. It has already taken a number of measures to foster the direct movement of milk and these will be maintained and, as appropriate further developed.
Mr. Davies further recommends that the Milk Marketing Board should be given full responsibility for the movement of milk between farm and processor. The Secretary of State for Scotland and I have already invited the Farmers' Unions and the Milk Marketing Boards to give me their detailed proposals for further increasing marketing efficiency and I shall be considering Mr. Davies' recommendation in the light of their views and of those of the milk trade whom I am also consulting.
The main proposal in the field of distribution from the dairy to the consumer is that household deliveries should be restricted to every other day in order to make more efficient use of labour. A number of supporting suggestions provide for the technical and commercial developments that would accompany such an innovation. These proposals are far-reaching and would involve a number of significant changes. It is my intention to discuss their implications in detail with the industry and with representatives of 202W consumers and the other interests who would be affected.
I am very grateful to Mr. Davies for an interesting and thought-provoking report, to which he has brought a lifetime's experience of service to the milk industry.