asked the Minister of Food why he has ceased the practice of announcing, with local newspaper advertisements, the sale of retail milk businesses; and what steps does he propose to take to notify customers who may wish, in such circumstances, to change their retailer.

I have done this to save money. The cost of these advertisements, already about £5,000 a year, was growing. The period during which customers may change to another retailer has been extended from a fortnight to a month and I believe that in that time all customers will learn that the business has been sold.