§ Mr. Ensorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has completed his consideration of the Report of the Committee of Investigation for England and Wales on the complaint of certain milk producers in South-Eastern England; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesOn 10th January I published the conclusions of the Committee of Investigation for England and Wales on the complaint of the South-Eastern milk producers as to the operation of the Milk Marketing Scheme for England and Wales. The Committee's Report has been published today and copies are available in the Library.
I have carefully considered the Committee's findings. I am satisfied that even if its recommendations were implemented within the framework of the regional pricing structure of the Milk Marketing Scheme, they would have a profound effect on incomes of milk producers in different parts of the country. Many of them, particularly those in the West of the country, would suffer significant losses. Moreover, if the principle that each and every producer should be paid according to his proximity to a liquid market were pursued to its logical conclusion, it would bring to an end the present system for the organised marketing of milk which has been so successful.
47WThe Committee recognised that the wider questions of agricultural, economic and social policy involved in this matter were beyond the scope of its inquiry. These must, however, in my view be given full weight. After considering with great care all the issues involved, and the very wide implications of the Committee's recommendations, I have concluded that it would not be in the public interest for me to direct the Board to implement the Committee's conclusions.