§ 49. Colonel ROPNERasked the Minister of Agriculture the nature of the steps to be taken by the Milk Marketing Board during the current year to increase the consumption of liquid milk in this country?
§ Mr. ELLIOTThe main step taken by the Milk Marketing Board to increase the consumption of liquid milk in this country is the milk-in-schools scheme, 1295 details of which were laid before the House in September last. A further step is the initiation of a scientifically controlled experiment in selected schools and approved centres designed to demonstrate the nutritional value of milk. I hope shortly to be in a position to give the House particulars of this interesting development. A third step which the Milk Marketing Board are contemplating is a general publicity campaign in favour of liquid milk consumption, which will take place in the early spring. Particulars of this campaign will also be laid before the House in due course.
§ Mr. de ROTHSCHILDAs regards milk for schools, is the Minister aware that, instead of Grade A T.T. liquid milk being provided, what is provided at the present time is pasteurised milk, in most cases old milk, manufactured by dairies, and is not the liquid milk which the children are supposed to get?
§ Mr. ELLIOTAny milk for schools is supplied under the authority and responsibility of the medical officers of health concerned, and it would be quite wrong for me to cast any aspersions on the competence of those officers.
§ Mr. de ROTHSCHILDIs the Minister aware that the circulars which the Ministry of Health and the Board of Education have issued to schools have asked them to 'use pasteurised milk without inspecting it; and is he aware that pasteurised milk is often milk that has been kept for several months and is not fresh milk, whereas the farmers are prepared to provide fresh milk for these schools?
§ Mr. ELLIOTIt is clear that such representations should be addressed to the county authorities and the education authorities concerned. It would, as I have said, be quite wrong for me to reflect upon the professional competence of the medical officers in question.