§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in reaching his decision on the future pricing system for milk, he will take account of the strong feeling which exists in the Scottish dairy industry in favour of the present system of milk costings from farm to doorstep and the wish not to alter the present system.
§ Mr. YoungerI considered the views of all the parties directly concerned in the milk industry before reaching my decision on the future pricing system for milk. In particular, my noble Friend the Minister of State has met representatives of the dairy trade on several occasions, when they have made known their views.
As I made clear in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Argyll (Mr. MacKay) on 16 April, sales of milk in Scotland to domestic consumers are split equally between doorstep deliveries and sales through shops; it 361W would therefore not be in the best interests of consumers or distributors to continue the present system of milk costings from farm to doorstep.—[Vol. 3, c. 228–29.]