asked the Minister of Food what objections were raised by the Milk Marketing Board to the proposal of Messrs. Southwicks Wholesale Dairies, Limited, to establish a dairy, with main depot status, at Pickering.

The Milk Marketing Board's objections were that the redirection of milk involved was unnecessary and would entail additional cost, and that the prospects of increased production in the area were not such as to justify the erection of a new depot.

Am I to understand from that reply that these objections were over- ruled on the advice of an official, a Mr. Harper, who had himself been a director for nine months of Messrs. Southwick?

I am glad that the hon. Gentleman has raised that again, because he mentioned it in another Question. Mr. Harper certainly served in the Milk Department, but he was not concerned with questions of this kind. He did not see Messrs. Southwick, but a farmers' deputation which came on an entirely different matter to discuss pasteurisation plant. Mr. Harper was only concerned in discussing buildings which are to be erected for the purpose of the heat treatment of milk.