asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (a) the amount of Irish creamery butter in stock on 1st March, 1953; (b) what the total amount of money to the credit of the creameries in respect of stocks held by them on 1st March, 1953, amounts to as a result of the increase of 4d. per lb. in the price of butter; and, furthermore, whether he has satisfied himself that the price of 18.56d. per gallon which was paid for March, 1953, on a test of 3.3 per cent. of butter fat is an adequate price.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Butter Stocks and Milk Price.
Mr. Walsh
As regards (a), the quantity of Irish creamery butter held on 1st March, 1953, by or on behalf of creameries and principal merchants, but excluding day-to-day stocks in the hands of shopkeepers, amounted to 34,295 cwt.
As regards (b) the answer is "nil" because under the provisions of the Dairy Produce (Price Stabilisation) Acts, 1935 to 1941, creameries mustsurrender into the Dairy Produce (Price Stabilisation) Fund the increased value of butter stocks held on the occasion of any increase in the price of butter.
As regards the final part of the question, I would refer the Deputy to the reply which I gave to questions asked by Deputies Dillon and Lehane on 11th March, 1953 and I have nothing further to add to that statement.